THE country club in the city competition. That is how Werribee sees itself.
And with a vast majority of its premiership heroes hailing from country leagues, it is an extremely apt one.
Mark Penaluna, the long-time Tigers CEO, is a huge part of that and possibly the most deserving club official in the VFL to taste the sweet nectar of a drink from the Holy Grail.
And in typical Penaluna fashion, he was quick to deflect the attention to his players, the staff and volunteers that all played a big part in the six-point win over the Southport Sharks in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final on Sunday – even after spending Saturday night picking up rubbish after the WRFL Grand Final at Avalon Airport Oval.
“It is pure elation, joy, satisfaction. I’m just so proud of what these guys delivered,” he said.
“They’ve stuck together since we went standalone in 2018. They stuck together through Covid,” he said.
“They just wouldn’t relent. They wanted to be mates, they were, they are, and then you bring another group of guys through who just buy into the club culture as part of their DNA. They support each other and ultimately get the results.
“It’s just the little things (that make Werribee what it is). I’m not going to ask someone to do what I wouldn’t do myself – leadership is about do as I do not do as I say, and that’s what these guys did today.”
Mark Stone, who has been a big part of the Tigers’ recruiting drive for two decades, said Werribee’s success was all about the connection the club was able to foster among all its parts – and embracing the multiculturalism of the Wyndham community.
“It’s about the connections we’ve got as a club that enable us to do what we do and we’re going to continue to push the barrow and bring young players to the club,” he said.
“We have a saying where we are the country club in the city. We have a country environment, we’re all team first and we just look after each other and if you have a great environment they will come.
“Look at all these friends and family and partners in the rooms – that is what it’s all about.
“To get every culture in our region involved, we’re inviting to everyone who wants to play, we create the culture, they come.”
Both Penaluna and Stone admitted to a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the see-sawing contest.
“The second quarter they were really tested, they came back and I thought we had them,” Penaluna said.
“Southport was unbelievable the last 10 or so minutes, but our guys just found a way and just the intestinal fortitude from them was amazing.
“It’s all about mateship, supporting each other on and off the field to make it a place they want to come home to.
“Jimmy (Allan) and the guys did an amazing job to bring that home in the second half.”
Stone added: “It is a great reward. It has been 20 years in the making.
“I started at Werribee in 2005 and there are a lot of country boys here I had an indirect connection with. We’re a great team on and off the field and it takes a lot of people to do that.
“We’ve got the monkey off the back after so long and it is just a great feeling to be in the rooms after the game.
WHAT THEY SAID
MARTIN CARTER (Werribee president and life member)
“It’s a 31-year overnight success. It has been a long time coming for the people of Werribee, anyone that’s had anything to do with it, whether it be small or big in their eyes, they’re part of it.
“This is for the people and it's for the Werribee Football Club and the Werribee community.”
MARK ‘WILBUR’ WILLIAMS (Coaching advisor)
“It’s fantastic, great for the club, great for the players, coaches, great for the community.
“When we got it on our terms and spread them and took the ball off them and got the ball into the forward line quickly we tore them apart.
“They got it back on their terms in the last quarter – stoppage is their game and they do it really well and it nearly got them over the line in the end.
DOM GLEESON (ex-captain and life member)
“A very emotional day for the Werribee Footy Club. Last year was very painful for us and we’ve got a big contingent here today of ex-players and we're just so proud of what Jimmy and the boys have been able to perform for us.”
DONALD McDONALD (1993 premiership playing coach, life member and 2024 premiership cup presenter)
“It’s a relief, finally, for guys like Mark Penaluna and Martin Carter and all the boys from that era who have stuck with the club.
“It’s an unbelievable club, a great spirit, they’ve had so much setback over the journey, but the journey has been worth it. They’ve broken the curse if you want to call it that.
“It was an unbelievable honour (to present the Cup) and I’m so happy someone else is going to be a part of it. I’ve had my time in the sunshine and I’m just really proud of the club and it has just been a fantastic honour to come down and share it with everyone.
FRANK LESIPUTTY (1993 premiership player)
“Absolutely fantastic. It has been 31 years. We’ve seen previously that they’ve made the Grand Final but unfortunately haven’t got the chocolates, but this year the boys were so close, they were a tightknit group and they just gelled together and come home.
“They gave us a little bit of scare in the last 20 minutes or so of the last quarter but I was so proud of them. They’ve taken the monkey off our back now and now I’ve got a couple more blokes to share a beer with.”
PETER WILLIAMS (1993 premiership player, life member)
“It was really great to come and watch this spectacle today. They played well and there’s so many people here from 31 years ago. We’re just celebrating together and looking forward to the evening and looking forward to heading back to Werribee.”
