PLEASE NOTE: The game between Werribee and Geelong has been moved to Simonds Stadium. Details as follows: Friday 17 April, 2015, match commences: 7.30pm, gates open: 6.30pm – Polly Farmer Gate (Moorabool Street), Seating: Reg Hickey Stand. The Geelong v Werribee VFL R13 fixture (Saturday July 11) will now take place at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee.
The Peter Jackson VFL season kicks off Friday night between Werribee and Geelong for the K-Rock Cup - we preview their season.
Geelong will feature a new coach in 2015 with Paul Hood taking over the role from Matthew Knight, while john lamont is in his second season at the club.
Werribee Tigers
Coach: John Lamont (2nd year)
Captain: Michael Sodomaco
2014 finish: 5th
2014 best & fairest: Jarred Moore
Last premiership: 1993
Alignment: North Melbourne (partial)
Notable ins: Joe Redfern (Bendigo), Matt Hanson (Western Storm), Mitch Vandenberg (North Launceston), Matthew Brett (Murray Bushrangers), Aaron Christensen (Geelong Falcons), Braden Ferrari (Western Jets), Joe Maishman (Geelong Falcons), Matt Munro (Murray Bushrangers), Matt Pickering (Bendigo Pioneers) , Ben Speight (North Melbourne)
Notable outs: Jarred Moore (retired), Ben Warren (Pascoe Vale), Jarrod Mather, Sam Wormald (Torquay), Addam & Nick Maric (Greenvale), Trent Shinners (retired), Jackson Davis (St Joseph’s), Meyrick Buchanan (Footscray), Jobi Harper (Western Storm)
Werribee will be hoping its practice match form does not continue into the home and away rounds, with the Tigers only able to record one win against the NAB AFL Academy during the preseason. Back to back best and fairest winner Jarred Moore departs, who has been a key leader for their midfield over the last two seasons. Also missing this year will be experienced grouping of Jarrod Mather, Sam Wormald, Trent Shinners and Ben Warren with a younger lineup taking to the field in 21015. The Tigers will be hoping their Tasmanian recruiting again pays off after the success of Ben Brown, with Matt Hanson (Western Storm) and Mitch Vandenberg (North Launceston) joining the club. The major news of the offseason was the Tigers will join North Melbourne in a full alignment in 2016.
Geelong
Coach: Paul Hood (new)
Captains: Ryan Williams, Jackson Sheringham, Ben Raidme, Jack Hollmer
2014 finish: 9th
2014 best & fairest: Jordan Schroder
Last premiership: 2012
Alignment: AFL standalone
Notable ins: Ryan Williams (Central), Matt Farrelly (Bendigo), Tom Ruggles (Leopold), Jackson Sheringham (Geelong), Sandy Robinson (Port Melbourne)
Notable outs: Dom Gleeson (Torquay), Andrew Banjanin (St Mary’s), Chris Lynch (Bell Park), Matt Sully (NSW)
From grand finalist in 2013 to a non-finalist last year, Geelong are the most likely team set for a top eight return in 2015 under new coach Paul Hood. Ryan Williams from the SANFL headlines a strong list of recruits, with delisted Cat Jackson Sheringham retained, along with the inclusions of Bendigo Gold young gun Matt Farrelly and the return of Sandy Robinson from Port and Ben Raidme from injury. The added depth to the AFL Cats forward line could see a strong VFL Cats forward 50, with Shane Kersten and Josh Walker again set to be the key targets, and scoring was not a problem in the preseason matches, averaging 14 goals a game. Dom Gleeson will be a loss for his experience, but the new four man leadership group of Williams, Sheringham, Raidme and the ever liable Jack Hollmer gives the young Cats plenty of experience to utilise.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
Werribee Tigers 6.2, 7.3, 8.5, 13.9 (87)
Geelong Cats 1.6, 5.9, 10.10, 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Werribee Tigers :
M. Sodomaco 2, J. Porter 2, M. Daw 2, J. Bolton 1, T. Gribble 1, B. Warren 1, T. McGenniss 1, S. Wormald 1, B. Norris 1, A. Christensen 1
Geelong Cats :
J. Hollmer 2, J. Schroder 1, M. Brown 1, C. Tudor 1, D. McFarlane 1, J. Thurlow 1, D. Lang 1, D. Gibbs 1, M. Luxford 1, D. Gleeson 1
BEST
Werribee Tigers :
M. Daw, M. Sodomaco, B. Speight, S. Wright, J. Moore, J. Bolton
Geelong Cats :
J. Jansen, M. Brown, J. Hollmer, J. Kolodjashnij, J. Sheringham, D. Gibbs
Last Modified on 16/04/2015 10:06
