Tara Murray
When Matt Hanson moved from Tasmania to Victoria to play in the Victorian Football League with Werribee in 2015, he had no idea he would still be there today.
Hanson on Saturday is set to play game 100 for Werribee as the club takes to the field for its qualifying final against Box Hill.
One of Werribee’s stars over a long period of time, which has included winning four best and fairests, Hanson said it was exciting to reach the milestone.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m really excited,” he said. “It’s been nine years at the club, I’m pretty due for it.
“I’m ready to go.”
Hanson played all his junior football in Tasmania and played a couple of years in the Tasmanian State League before deciding he wanted to try his luck and play at the highest level.
He had no idea where it would lead him.
“The main reason I moved was to play footy at the highest level,” he said. “I moved to Melbourne and Werribee in 2015 and thought I would try my luck in the VFL.
“I’ve stayed with Werribee for nine years and it’s been a journey, one that I never thought would happen.
“I’m glad I took it up.”
Despite his success in the VFL, Hanson never got his opportunity on an AFL list. It’s something he is OK with.
“It’s one of those things that didn’t happen,” he said. “I’m not disappointed, I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do at Werribee,” he said.
“I’ve played the best I can and I’ve been lucky enough to be at such a great club for nine years. I’m thankful for that and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Hanson said there were lots of reasons that he had stayed at Werribee throughout his VFL career.
He said that the culture of the group was one of the main reasons. He joins Tom Gribble and Michael Sodomaco who are on the current list to have played 100 games for the club.
“It’s really a team first vibe at the club,” he said. “Everyone has their individual goals but everyone is working towards that premiership.
“There’s a good core group of players. There’s a fair number of players that have been here for five to 10 years together.”
This year hasn’t been the easiest year for Hanson, having played just five games this year after two long stints on the sidelines.
“I broke my hand and had two surgeries and then I dislocated my AC joint,” Hanson said. “It’s a good club to be about and seeing the guys performing gets you motivated to experience that winning feeling, I’ve come back at the right time.”
One thing Hanson is keen to achieve is a premiership.
The club has its best chance of winning in Hanson’s time at the club. The club finished second on the ladder on the back of 15 straight wins.
“I’d love to get my hands on it later in the year,” he said. “It’s one thing we are chasing as a group.
“It’s quite special winning 15 in a row. The core group have been together for some time and there’s a lot of continuity in the group.
“We’ve added some young guys and vibrant pieces stepped up into the team. Hopefully we’ve got three or four more games in the year and we want to take it as long as we can and hopefully not lose another game.”
Werribee’s finals campaign starts on Saturday at Avalon Airport Oval at 2.05pm.
Hanson said it would be a tough game.
“We haven’t played them this year,” he said.
“We will do our due diligence like any other game.”
