Werribee Football Club Fairfax Community Network

OPINION Tantalising finals footy option for Tigers fans

By Brent Diamond IT took until the third quarter of Werribee’s round eight clash with Collingwood for the Tigers to turn on their best form of the season. A barnstorming eight-goal quarter sent Tigers fans into raptures and confirmed Flinn Chisholm’s status as a rising star of the competition. took a further grasp on securing Werribee’s best first-year player award, Dominic Gleeson and Rob Castello returned to last year’s form and proved why he was selected in the state team. The North -listed players also demonstrated their positive influ- ence on the team. Would the Tigers be anywhere near finals calculations without the brilliance of Ben Davies, who has raced away to an eight-vote lead in the Banner Tigers Player of the Year award? Or the experi- ence of Jess Sinclair and the young legs Fighting fit: Jak Kennedy-Hunt believes he is finally regaining full fitness after a string of injuries. Picture: Andrew Kelly of Ben Ross? Scott Thompson, Leigh Brown and Matt Riggio are others who have been important to Werribee’s on-field turn- around. The engine room clicked against Collingwood. Jak’s debut is one to savour But the Magpies are second-last on the ladder for a reason. They’re developing, not winning premierships. By Brent Diamond senior debut for Werribee after a roller- good challenge. It’s been hard waiting Hunt’s call-up was well deserved. Werribee’s biggest scalp has been coaster run with injuries threatened to around for my opportunity. But I’m in AFL recruiting managers feel he’s too seventh-placed Port Melbourne. AT the start of January last year, a derail his football career. now and hopefully I can play a few big to be a midfielder and too small to Tigers fans are not expecting a flag this surfy-blond key position prospect from His list of injuries reads a little like a more.’’ be a key forward. season. Jan Juc arrived at Bartercard Oval with footballer’s nightmare. He had just seven disposals, but it was His rangy size poses the dilemma of But playing finals football is not out of huge wraps. Glandular fever, ankle and shoulder his one-percenters that stood out over- where he plays his best football. the question. So highly credentialled was injuries and osteitis pubis were bad all, with a couple of tackles and bumps He was used as a floater from half- The Tigers have seven winnable games 187-centimetre, 76-kilogram Jak enough. that left the Tigers hierarchy with a back to the wing against Collingwood. in the last 12 rounds. Kennedy-Hunt from St Joseph’s Foot- But two weeks after he arrived at smile. Kennedy-Hunt believes his best foot- If they won all seven it would guarantee ball Club that many, including Geelong Werribee, he had his appendix out. The confident-talking Kennedy-Hunt ball is ahead of him and hasn’t quite a spot in the top eight. Falcons regional manager Michael ‘‘I’ve had a few injuries over the past was all smiles after the match, victori- given up on the AFL dream. Matches against Coburg Tigers, Turner, believe he was unlucky to miss few years. It’s tough but I’m hopefully ous in more ways than one. ‘‘Honestly, I don’t think I’ve played Box Hill Hawks and Tasmania are vital out on a draft or rookie selection in over everything now,’’ Kennedy-Hunt ‘‘I just want to have consistent form my best. But I’m starting to get fit so ones. 2006. said. and play finals eventually, he said. hopefully it will be around the corner,’’ They should win two, if not all three In his school football days, he kicked The surf lifesaver-turned-tradesman ‘‘It’s a good feeling to have a win he said. matches, to climb well inside the top a few bags of goals including a seven- was given a shock call-up in the lead-up here.’’ Kennedy-Hunt arrived last year with eight. goal haul in the MCC Herald Sun to the round eight win over the Pies. He said playing alongside North Mel- a swag of former , Round nine — with Diamond’s tips Shield for St Joseph’s against Penleigh ‘‘It was a surprise, actually. I’ve only bourne players added to the occasion on travelling a couple of times every week NORTH BALLARAT v Frankston and Essendon Grammar. played a couple of good games and got the field. up the Princes Highway. TASMANIA v Port Melbourne He was the biggest rage at St Joseph’s the call-up. It was fun to be out there, a ‘‘You learn a lot from playing with They included Jackson and Tim Northern Bullants v WILLIAMSTOWN Football Club. good feel,’’ he said. some senior players and the North boys Sheringham, Reece Cordy, Flinn Chis- WERRIBEE TIGERS v Coburg Tigers Last week against Collingwood, a ‘‘Of course, I was a bit nervous. I are great down here, they fit in per- holm and Michael Rockefeller. Casey Scorpions v GEELONG more mature 20-year-old Kennedy- knew what I had to expect from training fectly.’’ The latter won the best first-year SANDRINGHAM v Collingwood Hunt made his long-awaited VFL with all the boys and everything. It’s a Coach Simon Atkins said Kennedy- player award last year. Box Hill Hawks v BENDIGO BOMBERS

TIGERS CLUB NEWS TEAM PLAYER SSpecialpecial OF THE YEAR ROUND 8 WEEKLY LEADER TTeghan’seghan’s TonTon NAME TOTAL MMeeteetiingng Morrow Brent 14 Teghan Henderson joins a very select group this week- Palmer Justin 12 The Werribee Football Club advises a end when he runs out for his 100th senior game for the Sheringham Jackson 12 special meeting of members is being Werribee Football Club. “ Hendo’s” footy journey has Chisholm Flinn 11 held on Monday June 30th to adopt Banjanin Andrew 10 new rules to allow the club to become taken him from the Essendon League as a junior to the Calder canons to Richmond, North Adelaide and to Henderson Teghan 9 a company limited by guarantee. O’Brien Nathan 9 Details are in the public notice section Werribee. He made his debut in round 1 of 2002 of this newspaper and available on LEADER BOARD against the Murray Kangaroos. His marking, NAME AVG the website werribeefc.com.au. speed and versatility made him a stand out from Justin Palmer 12 the start and his dedication earned him respect Sheringham Jackson 11.5 from his peers and the Werribee supporters. Un- Banjanin Andrew 8.57 doubtedly one of the most popular players with his Chisholm Flinn 8.37 fellow players and supporters the Werribee Football Young Jarrod 8 Club congratulates Teghan on this milestone. We Gleeson Dominic 7.87 hope there is many more games to come. Jackel Nathan 7.85 THE BANNER, Wednesday, June 4 2008 — 103 WERR 103