After one of the best individual Victorian Football League seasons, Werribee midfielder Dom Brew has re-signed for 2025.
Brew’s eighth season with Werribee was unforgettable, highlighted by an outstanding array of accolades including the J.J Liston Trophy, league coaches most valuable player award. VFL team of the year captain, a second consecutive Bruce Montgomery Trophy and leading Werribee to its first premiership in 31 years.
Brew stepped up this year after the departure of several leaders from the club and decided to step away.
He went on to play every one of Werribee’s 21 games in 2024, his second consecutive season without a missed match.
He averaged a career-high 29 disposals, and led the VFL in tackles and clearances.
Brew’s J.J. Liston Trophy win showed his domination across the competition for the season having won the count after 17 votes.
Reflecting on his re-signing, Brew addressed Werribee fans.
“Pumped to be back on board for the 2025 season,” he said. “2024 was pretty good, pretty memorable.
“Those that know me, let’s make 2025 even better – pumped to get back into it.
“Let’s go.”
This year was Brew’s eighth season at the club, arriving in 2017 from North Albury where he shared the playing field with Shaun Mannagh.
Their local coach, former AFL star Jason Akermanis, advised the pair to give VFL a go.
He broke into the senior side round 9, 2017 and has never looked back and became one of the competition’s leading midfielders.
Meanwhile, premiership teammate Nick Hayes has announced his VFL retirement.
The most experienced player in the Tigers premiership team announced that he was calling it a day after 64 games and four seasons with the club.
In his final season, the versatile forward played 18 games in Werribee’s premiership-winning campaign, with his 2024 season also seeing him reach the milestone of 200 state league games.
Reflecting on his time with the club, Hayes shared, “It’s been a great experience playing at Werribee, and I’ve made some friends for life.”
“The premiership is a day I’ll never forget, and the best possible way to finish my time at the club.”
The forward made the switch to Werribee from South Australian club Woodville West Torrens ahead of the 2021 VFL season, fresh from a 2020 South Australian National Football League flag.
Prior to his six seasons with Woodville, Hayes was originally drafted to Brisbane in the 2013 rookie draft, and spent two seasons with the Lions, where he won the reserves best-and-fairest in his second season. During his time at Brisbane, Hayes also won a North East Australian Football League premiership, adding the 2024 VFL title as his third state league premiership across three different competitions.
