YOU won’t find many footballers who would consider their 104th VFL match to be so much more important than their 100th.
But then again, there aren’t many footballers like Tom Gribble.
The Werribee champion played four games for Geelong in 2013 before finding his way to Chirnside Park, and while he rates that experience highly, he knocked back the chance to celebrate his 100th match late last year in favour of marking 100 wearing the big yellow W.
It’s a milestone that finally arrives in the Smithy’s VFL match of the round against Southport at what is now Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday night, with the durable midfielder immensely proud of an achievement that sees him become a Werribee life member.
“It feels like a long time coming, there has been a few disruptions along the way, but it’s a great honour to get there,” he said.
“Not dismissing the fact I played four for Geelong, but playing 100 for one club and getting life membership is really rewarding from a personal point of view.
“The Geelong experience in my first year taught me a tremendous amount, most importantly about juggling aspirations to play at the highest level with playing in a system that revolves around the team and playing your role within that team.
“Being around experienced guys like Dom Gleeson and Troy Selwood at the time was a great one and really helped me in my transition to Werribee and helped me navigate my path towards 100 games.”
Gribble, 27, hasn’t missed a game since 2016, but the silver lining is the 100th Tigers game arrives shortly after one of the highlights of his career, having been named co-captain alongside his great mate Dom Brew.
Coincidentally, he will share the milestone with two teammates - key forward Josh Porter and young midfielder Louis Pinnuck, who will both play their 50th VFL matches for Werribee.
“Being captain of a footy club is something I never really thought of, it never really seemed like it would eventuate,” he said.
“I’ve always been quite vocal and in leadership groups, but being captain is something else and to share it with Brewy is pretty special – we’re both aligned in our values and visions for what we want the playing group to be about.
“Looking at the previous names of guys who have been captain like Michael Sodomaco and Jarred Moore, Dom Gleeson etc, it’s a great honour.”
(Tom Gribble's 99th game for Werribee yielded 35 disposals against Frankston in Round 1)
Gribble said his career-best 2019 season, in which he won the J.J. Liston Trophy and Werribee’s equivalent the Bruce Montgomery Trophy seems so long ago, while playing with his brother Noah in the last game of 2021 were other highlights.
“My first year at Werribee we got to a semi-final, both those finals were at North Port and it is an unbelievable atmosphere, a lot of people describe it as carnival-like,” he said.
“Then 2019 was something else and losing to Essendon by a slim margin, the crowd was absolutely rocking, so any final is a highlight, win, lose or draw.
It was probably one of my top one or two highlights in my career playing with (Noah) – I never thought that would eventuate – and he acquitted himself quite well and kicked a nice goal so hopefully there’s plenty more to come for him.
"Winning the club B&F and the Liston that year was a bit surreal … it’s hard to believe that year actually happened because it feels so long ago, but we’ve played so little footy since – it’s only 10 games ago.
“I’m still the reigning Liston winner which is quite ridiculous being three years down the track – that was a great honour and I’ve got so many people to thank and at the top is Choco (former coach Mark Williams), he did an enormous amount of work to get me where I am now.”
Gribble paid tribute to his late father Andrew, mother Sharon and his coaches for the influence they have had on his career.
“First and foremost my Dad, as well as my mum, who likes to chime in with her little two cents every now and then,” he said.
“I think all parents really play a part in their kids’ journeys, from the grassroots level right the way through – my parents very much took a backseat as well though, which I really appreciate, they just let me find my own way and I was very fortunate to find a solid grounding at Werribee.
“The VFL system can be quite volatile in terms of guys trying to find the right home for them so I’m very fortunate I found Werribee.
“Michael Turner at the Geelong Falcons was huge, having believed in me from the 16s onwards when I was quite a small kid and transitioning into VFL footy, my three coaches, John Lamont, Choco and Michael Barlow, and Peter Riccardi, who was my midfield coach in my first year as Werribee, and Michael Sodomaco has been great as well.”
Gribble was itching for the challenge of taking on a fellow premiership fancy in the Sharks, knowing a victory could set up Werribee’s season.
“It’s really good to have it (the 100th game) first game back at Werribee, under lights against Southport, who are a quality side … it’s probably taken the shine off it in my head and turned it into just another game, so I’m not overthinking it being the 100th,” he said.
“It will be a great occasion, we’re both going to be really good sides – it’s only early but I’m sure they have high aspirations as much as we do so I can’t wait to get stuck into it.
“Our expectations are that we’re going to be a really good side – we’re trying to take it week by week, but we do have a point to prove because we haven’t won anything for a very long time.
“2019 was a great year but we only made a semi-final so we’re realistic about the fact that by no means have we achieved anything … but we’ve got a good list so let’s see where it takes us.”
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL