Werribee’s champion midfielder Dom Brew will enter rare territory in 2026, re-signing to play his 10th season at the Victorian Football League club.
Brew is one of three key players that the club announced last week had re-signed.
One of the Tigers greatest ever players, Brew recently won a third consecutive Bruce Montgomery Trophy as Werribee’s best and fairest at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Brew further etched his name into club history, becoming just the third player to win the award three years running, joining Travis Robertson and close friend Matt Hanson.
After a dominant 2024 campaign in which he swept nearly every individual honour available, Brew somehow found another gear in 2025.
Brew spent the pre-season with the Western Bulldogs trying to earn an AFL contract. He returned to Werribee after that didn’t happen.
The inside bull averaged career highs of 28.9 disposals and 10.1 clearances per game, leading the VFL in clearances while also ranking number one for contested possessions and tackles.
At the VFL’s end-of-season awards night, Brew was named in the team of the year for the third straight season, while finishing third in the J.J Liston count after polling in 11 of his 18 games.
This year’s 18 appearances lifted him into eighth place on the club’s all-time games list with 129.
Should he play at least eight more in 2026, he will climb to second all-time, behind only hall of famer Robbie Castello.
Speaking on The Big W Podcast, Brew reflected on the year:
“Individually, it was a good year for me, but it’s a team sport and this year was quite frustrating,” he said.
“It’s definitely not a wasted year. We got games into a few boys that are gonna be a lot better for it. We got to expose a few boys to the level and they know what’s expected, and you can look at it as glass half full, which I do, as a necessary year.”
Mace Cousins will return to the Tigers for a second straight season.
In his first year at the club, Cousins quickly became one of Werribee’s most consistent performers down back. He was named among the best players in the final five games of the 2025 season, cementing his spot in the side with a string of standout defensive displays.
His strong finish to the year was recognised at the Bruce Montgomery Trophy night, where he claimed Werribee’s best defensive player award.
Another defender in Jaelen Pavlidis has also re-signed.
Pavlidis’ numbers rose across the board in 2025. He averaged career highs of 15 disposals, 12.1 kicks, and 6.6 marks per game, and recorded the third-highest disposal efficiency in the side as he continued to set up play from defence.
“I was super keen to lock in signing at the club again for 2026,” he said. “To be honest, it was a no-brainer as I’m fully invested in helping Werribee get back to the pointy end of the ladder where we belong.”
