Werribee played this year’s Victorian Football League grand finalists, Geelong and Box Hill, three times for three losses totalling 150 points.
The difference between the full-time environments experienced by AFL-listed players and the part-time system for VFL-listed players was one of the key reasons the Tigers fell short of a first grand final appearance since 2005.
With Werribee only partially aligned with North Melbourne, the Tigers were fielding fewer AFL-listed players than the powers of the competition. So it was no surprise that Geelong and Box Hill, Hawthorn’s affiliate, contested the grand final.
But that the Tigers reached the preliminary final – after beating Essendon and Casey in knockout finals – was an impressive result.
Werribee had several players exit following the 2012 season, among them Kyle Hartigan (Adelaide), Leigh Harding (development coach, Brisbane), Travis Tuck and Brad Mangan (both West Adelaide).
But the club recruited well in response.
Former Brisbane Lion Scott Clouston started the year as a forward but found his calling in defence.
Ben Brown, fresh from two years with Tasmanian state league side Glenorchy, was invaluable and is a chance to be drafted to the AFL.
Former Sydney Swan Jarred Moore had an outstanding year in the midfield, easing the load on Liston Trophy winner Ben Ross, as did another former Swan, Brett Meredith. Addam Maric, who played with Richmond and Melbourne, was crucial as a small forward, booting 39 goals.
Werribee, one of the early premiership favourites, started the year in hot form, beating Port Melbourne by 72 points. Ben Warren kicked 11 goals that afternoon and snagged 59 for the year.
But as the regular season drew to a close, the Tigers found themselves fighting for a finals spot. They secured one against the Northern Blues with a 48-point win in round 18.
Coach Scott West, who has taken the club to two preliminary finals in his two years in charge, has an offer from the club to continue coaching next year but is exploring his options at AFL level.
“In terms of developing my skill set, I’d really like to get back into the AFL,” he said.
“That hasn’t been a secret. Being at a partially aligned club, it can be that the development phase gets haltered if you stay too long.”
West said he had enjoyed watching the development of the club’s younger players, such as Darcy Fort, Jye Bolton, Michael Sodomaco and Jackson Davis.
“Bolton didn’t have a lot of opportunities in the seniors due to personnel, but his attitude has been outstanding all year and he kicked five in the prelim on Kyle Cheney,” West said.
