By Lance Jenkinson
Werribee Football Club has announced key re-signings in Jack Berry and Louis Pinnuck.
Berry, a towering ruckman, will stay on for a second year at Watton Street, while for Pinnuck, a defender, it will be his third year in the black and gold.
The latest re-signings mean Werribee has 10 players locked away for coach Mark Williams’ first season in charge.
Berry impressed in his first season at Werribee. He played 17 of a possible 18 games and established himself as the No.1 ruckman who could pinch hit as a forward.
With second ruckman Nick Nott sustaining a season-ending knee injury, Berry was forced to ruck one-out on occasions, but he proved to be an indefatigable competitor for his side.
Werribee football operations manager Stuart Balloch believes Berry, 22, can go up another level after a big pre-season.
“Jack came from limited opportunities at Geelong and was able to not only step in and take that first ruck, but then shoulder the burden of the ruck when Nick went down,” Balloch said.
“So it was a terrific effort in his first year with the club. We’re hopeful of seeing some continued improvement and for him to really match it with some of the AFL-listed ruckman and ultimately potentially get some interest at AFL level.”
Pinnuck has featured in 21 senior games in his first two years with Werribee.
An impressive maiden VFL campaign saw him play in the AFL Victoria Young Guns game. But he could not kick on this year after suffering a sindesmosis injury halfway through the season that restricted him to nine games.
Even in limited appearances, Pinnuck showed that he can be an integral part of the back six with impressive performances as a rebounding defender. If Pinnuck can stay injury free, Balloch envisages a time when AFL clubs might come calling.
“We’ve seen what Louis has been able to do as a rebounding defender and we want to try to give him multiple strings to his bow,” Balloch said.
Former Werribee and Footscray ruckman Darcy Fort has been drafted by Geelong with pick 65. Fort has been playing with Central District in the SANFL.
