Nick Coughlan will lead Werribee this season in the Victorian Football League.
Coughlan was announced as the club’s 34th captain on Monday night after being voted in by his peers.
Coughlan, who has played 55 games for Werribee, said he was incredibly humbled to be named captain.
“I didn’t think when I first walked into the club that I would one day be captain,” he said.
“From day one I have loved being at Werribee and all of the people past and present have been incredible to work with.”
“I’m very thankful for the trust shown in me by the players, Mick (coach Michael Barlow), Mark Penaluna (chief executive) and Martin Carter (president) and the board to lead the club in 2023.”
Before arriving at Werribee, Coughlan spent two years on St Kilda’s list after the Saints selected the former Murray Bushranger in the 2015 rookie draft.
He served as Werribee’s vice-captain last season and enjoyed arguably his best season for the club being named in the VFL team of the year 40-man squad despite playing just 10 games.
Coughlan takes over from Dom Brew and Tom Gribble who co-captained the club last season.
Coughlan will be supported by Brew and Shaun Mannagh who have been named vice-captains.
Gribble has taken a back seat and will not feature in the club’s leadership group in 2023.
Jack Henderson, Kye Declase, Louis Pinnuck and Nick Hayes are the four other members of the leadership group this year.
“To be able to lead with the support of Brewy and Shaun who I grew up with in Albury is a pretty cool thing,” Coughlan added.
“The leadership group we have is very strong and to have those guys and former captains in Sods (Michael Sodomaco) and Grib as sounding boards will be so helpful as we chase the on-field success we hope to achieve.”
Werribee coach Michael Barlow said Coughlan was an outstanding choice to lead the club. He said Coughlan’s understanding of the game had been unrivalled in his time as coach.
“[He] has an incredible ability to impact on-field as well as educate and upskill players off the field,” he said.
Jesse Clark heads up the development group leadership team with Jay Dahlhaus, Matt Keast, Lucas Rocci and Gennaro Bove the other members.
