On the whole, it was a disappointing Saturday evening for Werribee, sinking to a 53-point defeat to Collingwood in the Victorian Football League at Avalon Airport Oval.
But for debutant Joel Bennett, it was a night that he will never forget, as he made his long-awaited debut in the state league competition.
Bennett had to bide his time with Geelong in the VFL last year, but never broke through for a senior berth.
It was looking as though his first season at Werribee was going to be delayed after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction in October and then suffering a scaphoid fracture in his wrist in a pre-season game with Geelong West in the Geelong Football League.
After three weeks in a cast, Bennett was given the all clear to take it off and worked his way into the Geelong West team, where he immediately shone in the midfield.
Bennett received a nice surprise at Werribee team selection last Thursday night.
“I walked into our team meeting on Thursday night and I could see my name on the whiteboard, and then when ‘JL’ [coach John Lamont] spoke, it was one of the first things that he said that I was in the side,” Bennett said.
“It was a good feeling to get my name read out as the 23rd player and the family was quite excited about that.”
Bennett played on the wing for the first three quarters and then swung to half-back late on.
The 21-year-old had six kicks, eight handballs and three marks in a solid debut.
It took a bit of time for Bennett to settle the nerves and work into his role within the team structure.
Otherwise, he acquitted himself well as Werribee’s 23rd player.
“I was just trying to play my role for the team and hold the structures where I had to,” Bennett said.
“I was probably more conscious of it, thinking more about the team structures, whereas when I play locally at Geelong West, it’s second nature to me, I know where I have to be.
“I spoke to a few of the boys about it and they took me under their wing pretty well.
“They just backed me in to play my own game and just play footy pretty much.”
Bennett was in discussions with Geelong about a return, but with the team’s AFL alignment, it was apparent that senior opportunities could be limited.
There was some serious interest from NEAFL club Aspley, who flew from Queensland to watch him play at Geelong West, but that didn’t exactly go to plan.
“They actually flew down to watch me one game and I pulled out on the morning of the game with gastro,” Bennett said.
“I went up there and visited though, but I was still talking to Geelong at that stage and talking to [recruiting manager] Ange Cristoforo at Werribee, and he was someone that was really good to turn to and he helped me through it and we ended up deciding Werribee was the best fit for me.
“I didn’t have to move away from home, which was a big key for it, and there was going to be opportunities at Werribee.”
Bennett has fitted in seamlessly at Werribee.
A Geelong Falcons graduate, it has helped that there is a big contingent of former Geelong players involved with the club.
Now that he has enjoyed a taste of senior football at Werribee, he wants more and is hoping to secure his spot in the seniors after his 23rd player stint is complete.
He is loving the environment at Watton Street. “I love footy, it’s what I want to do every day,” Bennett said.
“State league, at the moment, is the best level I can play and I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”
Despite the result, it was an unforgettable moment for Bennett in his footy career.
He said Werribee’s turnovers proved costly against a polished Collingwood outfit, but he relished the chance to watch the likes of Tom Gribble, Michael Sodomaco and Ben Moloney go to work for Werribee.
“Gribbs, Sods and Ben, they’re the guys that I want to emulate what they’ve done with their careers at Werribee,” Bennett said.
“They’re what we aspire to be like.”
Josh Corbett continued his stellar form for Werribee with four goals.
Werribee will have a bye this weekend before hosting Footscray on May 20 at Avalon Airport Oval.
