By Lance Jenkinson
If you kicked 16 goals for Werribee in 2018, chances are you earned a new VFL contract last week.
Werribee announced the re-signings of Matt Munro, Kye Declase and Joel Bennett – three forwards who finished with 16 goals last season.
With leading goalkicker Andrew Hooper retiring and star forward Josh Corbett signed by the Gold Coast Suns, it was hugely important for Werribee to lock in the trio of 16-goalers from last season, ensuring that much of its firepower would be retained.
Munro, 23, will be Werribee’s most experienced player inside 50 this season.
The small forward has played 53 games and kicked 44 goals since arriving at Watton Street in 2015.
It is not only his conversion that is crucial, but also his defensive pressure and score assists.
Werribee football operations manager Stuart Balloch is happy with the retention of Munro.
“Matt has shown himself to be very handy in front of goal over the last couple of seasons, but his ability to help others find the goals was where he was really crucial for us last year,” he said.
“He’s now got more than 50 VFL games under his belt and is among the more senior players in our group, so we’ll be looking for him to go to another level and continue to be really important for us in that small forward role.”
It will be Declase’s second season at Werribee.
He showed promise in his 12 games, averaging 1.33 goals a game, but was hampered by a nagging back injury.
A four-goal haul against Williamstown in round three showed his potential.
“Kye is a beautiful kick for goal and his combination of height and mobility means he also has the versatility to flip out on to the wing,,” Balloch said.
“There’s no doubt his second half of the season wasn’t quite where he would have liked it to be, but he has shown he can be a real threat for us, so we’re really eager to see how he can progress as he continues to develop in that forward role.”
Werribee has also re-signed ruckman Nick Nott and defender Ben McNamara.
Nott was struck down by a season-ending knee injury in round five, but not before signalling his bright future at the club.
Balloch is optimistic Nott will bounce back from his setback.
“For Nick’s season to end the way it did last year was really disappointing,” he said. “But his application to his rehabilitation and attitude throughout has been first class.
“We’re hopeful he can return bigger and better than before and continue to provide good support for the likes of Jack Berry in that ruck/forward role.”
McNamara spent most of his 2018 season with St Joseph’s, where he won a premiership.
The youngster did get a chance to debut for Werribee and played four impressive games late in the season.
“Ben faced a big challenge last year in stepping up from local footy, but he showed himself to be a capable VFL player when given an opportunity late in the season,” Balloch said.
“We’re developing some real depth with our defensive set-up and we think Ben will again have a role to play for us there.”
