AFL
Former Werribee coach Michael Barlow has been named the AFL Coaches Association’s development coach of the year. Barlow joined North Melbourne this year after guiding Werribee to the Victorian Football League grand final last year. The development coach of the year is awarded based on input from both players and coaches, who are asked to rate the development coaches at their respective clubs on their overall performance throughout the year.
VSDCA
The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season is set to get underway on Saturday. This season it will be a south-west competition. Hoppers Crossing will be at home in a one-dayer on Saturday against Brighton and Werribee will be on the road against Elsternwick.
AFL
Point Cook’s Thomas Burton was one of the stars of the AFL National Futures Boys match on Saturday at the MCG. Burton had 26 disposals, four rebound-50s as he helped Team Heppell to a 25 point win. Fellow Western Jet Thomas McGuane was also part of Team Heppell. He was restricted to just six possessions. The match featured the best players who are eligible for next year’s draft.
Western FL
Max de Groot has been named Tarneit’s coach for next year’s Western Football League division 2 season. De Groot brings a wealth of experience as a senior coach is well-known in the league, with his most recent stint as the Titans reserves coach this year. “There’s no secret that 2024 was a tough season for the club; though Max got tougher,” the club said. “His excitement to build the club never waivered and now with an under-18s side, a flashy scoreboard, a complete junior pipeline and flourishing Auskick program on the radar for 2025, there’s none more excited than Max to be a Titan.”
