Tara Murray
Werribee players are itching to get back out on the field in the Victorian Football League.
The team return to the park this weekend in their first practice match ahead of the season getting underway on March 26.
Werribee coach Michael Barlow said the playing group continued to impress him, with the want to return and taste success.
“I think this February, there’s definitely been a little more thirst from the players and the squad to get back into it.
“It’s a credit to the group, that the real core has stuck around for a long time and has come back despite the uncertainty with the financial flux across all of football. It’s humbling for us as a coaching staff at the club.
“Our retention has been great.”
Barlow said this pre-season had been easier for him this time round, after being thrown into the role late with Mark Williams returning to the AFL.
He said having 12 months in the role and along with football manager Mark Micallef, who was appointed last February, was showing in things like the game plan and the preparation for the season.
On field, the group will look pretty similar. The departures of former AFL players Matthew Lobbe and Wylie Buzza are the biggests outs.
Barlow said they had been really targeted in their recruiting.
“We weren’t going out there casting our web far and wide,” he said. “We had specific people that we wanted to bring in.
“Guys from other VFL clubs starved of opportunities and were attracted to the appeal of playing for a standalone club.”
Sam Witherden, Saad El-Hawli, Sam Clohesy, Ethan Jackson, Sam Para, Marty Brennan, Oliver Hanrahan, Declase, Charlie Ham, Sam Conway, Josh Porter, Reuben William and Darcy Cassar are among the signings for Werribee this year.
Kye Declase also returns after being a drafted in the mid-season AFL draft last year.
Barlow highlighted the likes of Cassar and William as players to keep an eye on.
“Ruben has a high level of leadership,” he said. “He brings a really wholesome personality to the club.
“Darcy is a young man in a hurry. He will compliment the team and is an underage player.
“I’m confident when pinch comes to shove, selecting team on a full quota, he would be part of it.”
Paea, Aiden Johnson who joined from Laverton last year and Porter, will be given chances to fill the role left void by Buzza’s departure.
It’s the third time Porter has been at the club.
Barlow said there had been a number of players access the board who had really strong pre-seasons.
He said while he didn’t want to single out guys, some of the senior guys like Tom Gribble, Dom Brew and Nick Coughlan continued to elevate their performance.
“They’re senior gusy who want team success. They’re not done with growing and learning.”
The players will select a new captain in the coming weeks, after Michael Sodomaco decided to stand down from the role.
Werribee will start its season against Frankston.
