By Tara Murray
New Werribee captain Jesse Clark said it’s a special honour to take on the captaincy role at the Victorian Football League club.
Clark was on Thursday night announced as the Tigers captain, with Dom Brew named vice-captain and Louis Pinnuck deputy vice-captain. Angus Hicks and Jay Dahlhaus round out the leadership group.
“It’s a role that I feel privileged to have and to have the backing and support of the playing group and the club as a whole is quite a special feeling.
“I’m quite excited about the season ahead.”
Clark said it was a bit of a surprise to be named the man to fill the spot left vacant by the retirement of Nick Coughlan.
He said that he felt he had some good leadership traits and was already a part of the Tigers leadership group.
“I have some experience in that area and there’s such good leaders in Dom Brew and Louis Pinnuck who have played 100-plus games,” he said.
“They are experienced players and there were a few to choose from [to be captain]. Whilst it was a surprise, it’s a nice surprise and I’ll grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Clark said having someone like Brew next to him would make the job a lot easier.
Brew, who was co-captain a couple of years ago, led the side last season to the premiership in the absence of an injured Coughlan.
“The way he led us in the finals series last year,” Clark said. “I touch base with him regularly and I’ll pick his brain as much as possible.”
With Coughlan retiring along with Nick Hayes and Nathan Cooper the Tigers have lost a bit of experience in the off season.
Jack Henderson, Aidan Johnson and Riley Bice have also been picked up by AFL clubs.
Clark said it does feel like they’ve lost some experience but it’s an exciting time for that next group of leaders coming through.
“This year it does feel like a bit of a younger group is coming through,” he said. “The emerging leaders were named last night [Wednesday].
“Sam Azzi, Flynn Young, Jalen Pavlidis and Jack Riding. Jay Dahlhaus has been named in the leadership group, it shows that there’s good leaders at the club.”
While coming off a premiership, Clark said the training standards had been really high and they’d looked to take their game to another level.
He said they’d done some big sessions in December and January in preparation for the rest of the pre-season and season ahead.
“We’re confident that we have done the work,” he said.
There’ll be a number of spots up for grabs in round for the Tigers.
Clark said that was the nature of the VFL competition with a high turnover of players.
“We will look different to the premiership team,” he said. “I’m confident that we have a good list and will have a strong team in round one.”
Clark said Ryan Eyers and Harry Maguire were two off season recruits that had put their hands up to play big roles for the Tigers this season at either end of the ground.
Of the existing group, Riding and Young were the two that had impressed Clark most and he expected them to be set for bigger roles.
Werribee coach Jimmy Allan sees Clark’s appointment as a natural progression.
“Jesse ticks every box on the leadership checklist. He is a team first player, who is calm under pressure, and has a way of connecting with all club stakeholders. Most importantly, he can be trusted to do his job.”
“We are in a fortunate position that Jesse will receive fantastic support from Dom, Louis, Angus [Hicks] and Jay, who have all developed into terrific leaders in their own right.”
