Tara Murray
Werribee Districts will continue to rely on home grown talent in Western Region Football League division 1 this year.
After a strong 2021 season which saw them sitting second when the season was called off last year, the Tigers have stuck with the core group of players.
Tigers coach Chirs Gilham said their focus had been on retaining the existing playing group.
“COVID has been tough on people,” he said. “Things were going well last year when it was cut short.
“The focus was on trying to retain the list and go within a similar looking line up.
“From 2021 to 2022, we’ve been able to do that. It wasn’t hard at all. We’ve been able to retain them easily.”
Gilham said they had added a few younger blokes, who had previously played at the club and had gone elsewhere or had been playing at NAB League level.
Gilham said one of their biggest strengths was having locals playing at the club and not having to look to bring players in.
“Some clubs have struggled to keep players, we’ve been fortunate and they’ve been keen to jump on board.
“We’re in the fortunate position that most are home grown players. With the salary cap, we haven’t had a lot of room to move. We weren’t focused on recruiting.”
Zak Busuttil is one of those home grown players who is returning this season.
Gilham said the end to last season was disappointing, especially with the position they found themselves in.
He said it was too hard to forecast what would have happened had the season continued.
“We had beaten every team in the league that we had played, we were the only team to do that,” he said.
“Our position on the ladder gives us confidence heading into this year.”
The Tigers have a number of practice games scheduled in the lead up to round one, when they face Point Cook on April 2.
Gilham said they were keen to get some match simulation in ahead of the season.
He said they were hopeful of being up there and in the mix again this year.
“It will be very even competition and you can throw a blanket over the top five to seven clubs,” he said.
“I think we will be right there at the right time of the year.”
Gilham said things were looking positive across the board at the club, with high numbers of players in all age groups.
“My two kids are playing juniors and there were kids everywhere at training. We’re looking at having two sides in each age group.”
