Harper Sercombe
Following its first Western Region Football League premiership a new looking Werribee Districts list is keen to go again.
Last season’s division 1 premiers have moved on quickly from their triumph with club legends hanging up the boots, paving the way for the ‘next crew’ to ply their trade.
Following the premiership, Matt Dean, Trent Lee, Chris Molivas, Trent Lee and Andrew Panayi all stepped away from the club. All five were premiership players, with Molivas named as best-on-ground in the win.
Coach Chris Gilham said it is sad to see parts of the fabric of the footy club leave yet, the players who are ready to fill the boots of the departed excites him.
“We’re going to have a bit of a new look,” coach
“Five of our older blokes aren’t playing on which has been different, those guys have been there since my time at the club started. So it’s been a little bit different without those leaders but it’s also exciting.
“These guys are five of the best players in the club’s history, they’re absolute guns that have been so good for our club but they’re in their early 30s, having young kids, so it’s the time to move on.
“We’re going to miss them, not just as players but as people, they’re just great characters. So the challenge is for the next crew of boys to take over the leadership roles that these guys have.”
Since joining the WRFL from the Victorian Amateur Football Association the Tigers have been a dominant force. Its reserves side has won the last two premierships and were runners up in the last completed season, its under 18s won the premiership in 2022 and were runners up in the other two seasons.
“We’ve had just too many good players not getting enough opportunities because we’ve had a stacked list,” Gilham said. “So we’re really looking forward to seeing which one of that crop can go on and play 18 senior games.”
“As sad as it is to lose those stalwarts of the club and club legends, it’s exciting to see the next crew and the opportunity, and that will keep us hungry.
“I’m looking forward to it but it does feel like I’m coaching an under 22s side at the moment.”
Gilham said hunger is not going to be an issue for the Tigers with encouraging signs coming out of preseason.
“Obviously we had a great season last year but we were quick to put that in the rearview mirror and start our launch onto next season,” he said.
“That’s been the most pleasing part. You’d think after such a build, we’ve been chasing it for quite a few years that you might lose a bit of the hunger.
“The ones that played and are still playing are keen to have another crack, there were also many that weren’t playing that day in the senior team that want to be there this year or give us every opportunity to.
“I don’t think hunger is going to be a problem, the boys are really keen.”
The Tigers have also been able to add quality to their list, signing two VFL calibre players in Lucas Rocci and Jaelen Pavlidis. Both players were District’s juniors, which Gilham said was a major factor in their recruiting.
Rocci comes back to the club on a full time basis, after departing Werribee’s VFL side. Pavlidis played at the GWS Giants last season and will use the Tigers as a feeder club this year as he spends time with Werribee.
“We only wanted to add to our list if they were blokes from our club as juniors,” Gilham said.
“I think he’ll (Rocci) be a star of the competition, he’s such a good player. He’s versatile, he can play in all three areas of the ground, we’ll probably use him more in the midfield.
“They’re all our kids and we want to keep it that way. We always want to keep progressing with the next crew. It’s a bit of a changing of the guard but one that we’re excited to see where it takes us next year and we definitely know it’s going to be good for our future.”
