Werribee has likely finalised its recruiting with the signings of three promising youngsters out of the TAC Cup.
Welcomed to Watton Street over summer were Geelong Falcons pair Charlie Francis and Jack Henderson and Greater Western Victoria Rebels graduate Keegan Gray.
The trio of youngsters linked up with Werribee for the pre-season and the club offered them contracts on the back of their impressive form on the track.
Werribee coach John Lamont said he wanted to build a squad for the long term.
“We’re hoping to build a playing group that’s going to stick together for the next few years,” Lamont said. “These boys are youngsters, so hopefully they get a good taste of it and decide to hang around.”
Francis was a familiar face to most of the Werribee players. The 19-year-old trained with Werribee the previous summer to get a feel of the VFL system.
Highly respected at the Geelong Falcons, Francis served as a co-captain of the club and was recognised by his teammates as the player of the year.
His defensive efforts in a pre-season game against a Geelong Cats side full of AFL talent went some way to sealing his spot.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Francis said. “I’m looking forward to giving it a red-hot crack.
“Obviously, it’s a different intensity to what I’m currently used to, so I’m still working my head around that, but I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.”
Lamont is thrilled to have Francis on board. Lamont was impressed with what Francis delivered as a training invitee and then with his work on the ground in practice matches.
“He’s someone we have monitored,” Lamont said.
“He’s a really good competitor and he plays his role in the back half, which he did in that practice match against Geelong.
“He’s a good size, trains well and shows good attitude, and we’re rapt a Geelong Falcons co-captain has come into our pre-season.”
Henderson will bring a bit of versatility to the table for Werribee. The 18-year-old can swing forward and back, as shown by his efforts in the Falcons premiership team last season.
Originally from the New South Wales country town of Blighty and a junior with Deniliquin, Henderson moved south to attend Geelong College, where he won the school’s football best-and-fairest award.
“It’s a very big step up, just adapting to the bigger bodies,” Henderson said.
“It’s a much different style of football to TAC Cup, but I’ve loved every bit of it.”
Henderson might be small in stature, but he is big on heart and is a natural footballer.
“He’s a little bloke, so he’s probably had to fight for everything, but he’s a good kick, has good speed and finished in the [Falcons] top-10 in the best and fairest in a premiership year, so we think he can have a positive impact in 2018,” Lamont said.
“He’s got real power for a little bloke and can get in the air, so he might pull down a hanger one day.”
Gray is the youngest member of Werribee’s playing list.
The 18-year-old utility was impressive in the pre-season, showing courage and poise that belied his years, as well as strong running ability.
In the practice match phase, Gray followed the lead of the more senior Werribee players, who were willing to take him under their wing.
“It’s been good,” he said. “The boys around me have helped get me in the right positions and I’m just really excited at the chance to get a few games under the belt.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Gray might be the “baby” of the group, but he is certainly not afraid to throw his body around on a VFL field.
He impressed his coach with some courageous acts in Werribee’s pre-season circuit.
“He can win his own ball and showed good courage [in a pre-season game against Essendon] when he sat underneath a high ball and took the mark,” Lamont said.
