Harper Sercombe
Young gun Jaelen Pavlidis has enriched his family’s legacy at the Werribee Football Club arriving at Chirnside Park almost three decades after his father John Pavlidis did.
His father played for Werribee and later was a runner, welfare manager and recruiting manager for the club, earning himself life membership with the club.
Jaelen crosses from a rival Victorian Football League club having spent last season with Greater Western Sydney and said it is great to stand where his father once did.
“My dad was there for 10 or 15 years as a player and then helping out afterwards so it’s definitely special to be back home, where dad has been previously,” he said.
“It’s a great club, I’ve heard nothing but great things about it from my dad and everyone else that I know who’s been through there.”
After spending a year in Sydney he said he couldn’t be happier to be back in his hometown.
“It was a great experience to be up in Sydney but I’m definitely happy to be back,” he said,
“It took a little bit to get used to, a little bit of adjusting but I ended up enjoying it a lot. Cleaning for myself, cooking for myself, all of that good stuff, so I learnt a fair bit.
“I played most of the year up there, so [I want to] just continue on from that, playing as many games as I can and putting my best foot forward, keep learning, keep getting better every session, every day.
“It’s going really well. Getting to meet all of the boys, all of the coaches, learning heaps and getting ready for a big year ahead.
“I’ve been learning off all of the senior heads down there and taking it all in my stride have been learning heaps.”
While getting onto an AFL list is the goal for Pavlidis he said he is going to take the future as it comes, and said he couldn’t be in a better place for that dream to become a reality.
“It’s still obviously a goal for the future but I’m just taking it moment by moment for now and hopefully get a bit of team success with Werribee and whatever comes with that will come with that, just taking it one day at a time for now,” he said.
“There’s a lot of names that have come out of Werribee. [Jake] Riccardi I spent a bit of time with last year at the Giants, [Sam] Chlosey, [Shaun] Mannagh, they’re all good people as well so I’m definitely encouraged by that.
“One thing that I’ve noticed and enjoyed a lot is the development is definitely massive at Werribee, they just want everyone to get better each and every session. So I’m just trying to learn as much as possible and work on my craft as much as possible.”
When he isn’t playing with Werribee next season, he has committed to play with his junior club the Werribee Districts.
