Werribee Victorian Football League coach Michael Barlow is departing the club to join the North Melbourne Football Club as development manager.
Just days after guiding Werribee into its first grand final in almost twenty years, Barlow accepted the offer to take the next step in his coaching career.
Barlow played 141 games for Fremantle and the Gold Coast Suns from 2010 to 2018 after being picked up from Werribee in the VFL as a mature-age recruit.
He transitioned into coaching following his departure from the Suns, returning to Werribee as a playing assistant coach for two seasons before being promoted to senior coach ahead of the 2021 season.
In 2023, he was named the VFL coach of the year after leading Werribee to a 17-game winning streak and the side’s first grand final appearance in almost two decades.
Barlow’s connection with Chirnside Park runs deep and he said it is sad to be leaving the place he loves.
“My love and gratitude for this place is phenomenal,” he said.
“I’m really excited by the opportunity and it’s a really significant opportunity for me, to step away from what I’m doing now was no easy decision because I’ve once again fallen in love with the Werribee Football Club and its people.
“2024 will be a great year for Werribee no doubt, the sustained level of success is here, the people are here, the environment is here, the energy and attitude is great.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed this stint at Avalon Airport Oval and thank the club for giving me the opportunity. It is a special club with an outstanding administration, great facilities and a culture committed to excellence on and off the field.
“The grand final loss still stings but this playing group gave everything they had and will be better for the experience.”
Werribee’s president Martin Carter said he has mixed emotions about Barlow’s move after losing former coach, AFL premiership player and coach, Mark Williams at the end of the 2020 season to Melbourne .
“The entire club is delighted for Mick but also disappointed to lose one of our favourite sons to the AFL,’ he said.
“Interestingly, our last two senior coaches have been headhunted by AFL clubs, which says a lot about the status of our club and our senior coaching position. We are proud to have played a part in Mick’s football journey firstly as a player when he was drafted to Fremantle and now as his AFL coaching career begins.”
The role of replacing the coaching position falls now to chief executive Mark Penaluna, however, he expects the role will draw a lot of interest.
“Replacing someone of Mick’s calibre is not an easy task but I am sure there are a lot of quality football people who will be keen to join us,” he said.
”It is a position full of possibilities and we are keen to build on what we achieved this year.”
