Werribee’s leadership will have a familiar look in the coming Victorian Football League season.
Werribee has undergone major infrastructure changes at Avalon Airport Oval and a playing list overhaul since cutting ties with North Melbourne to become, once again, a stand-alone club.
But the side’s leadership remains unchanged, with Michael Sodomaco once again fronting as captain.
Sodomaco is the head of a five-player leadership group with three-time Bruce Montgomery Trophy winner Matt Hanson, Jake Sharp, Tom Gribble and Kurt Aylett.
It is Sodomaco’s fourth year as skipper, while Hanson and Sharp enter their third seasons and Gribble and Aylett enter their second campaigns as part of the leadership group.
Werribee coach John Lamont saw no reason for a leadership group shake-up.
“We’ve seen growth in all of the boys and they’ve continued to mature and understand football better,” Lamont said.
“Obviously, they’ve been our leading group in an environment with a full alignment with an AFL club, so it made perfect sense for those boys to continue to steer the ship as an independent club.
“They’ve started the year well and I’m expecting big things.”
Outside that group, Werribee has a number of natural leaders.
Experienced recruits Sam Collins, Andrew Hooper, Nick Coughlan and Ben Moloney are lead-by-example characters and will be rich additions to the fabric of the team.
“These boys are more than capable of having some input into a leading group, but we just thought we’d let them settle into their new club,” Lamont said.
Werribee played its traditional season opener against Geelong Cats in Torquay on Sunday after
Star Weekly’s Easter deadline.
The boys in black and gold will have a weekend off before their home opener against Casey Demons under lights at a new-look Avalon Airport Oval on April 14.
… Lance Jenkinson
