Although it was ultimately a difficult season for Werribee with only seven wins from 18 matches, the performances of several Roos were clear positives.

In the first season of the single alignment between the Tigers and the Roos, it started off excellently. Four wins from the first five matches featured an impressive looking forward line. Mason Wood starred in his few appearances; Majak Daw was playing well and Aaron Black was recapturing the form from a couple of seasons ago.

Black kicked 19 goals in his first seven matches, and became the focal point of the forward line once Wood earned his promotion to AFL level and Daw was spending periods of each match in the ruck.

Unfortunately, injuries became a common theme in the VFL as well. Black was struck down by an ankle complaint which cost him nine weeks of action and only returned for the final match of 2016.

Werribee’s fast start soured through the middle third of the season. A long losing streak saw the side slip outside of the final eight, despite the form of several youngsters.

It was Ryan Clarke who shone playing in the midfield. The first-year Roo continued to get his hands on the ball and show why he was so highly regarded at junior level.

He averaged almost 25 disposals per match in his first eight VFL outings before getting the call up to make his AFL debut, where he was rewarded with six consecutive games.

While Clarke was finding plenty of his own ball, a fellow Roo was learning the defensive side of the midfield.

Declan Mountford was entrusted with a tagging role through large parts of the back half of the season, excelling against AFL-listed opponents.

He also was one of the few who managed to play every VFL game, demonstrating his durability.

Corey Wagner was the first of the crop to earn an AFL debut, playing his first match against Hawthorn and finishing with four AFL appearances for the season.

Arguably Werribee’s best performance of the season came against the Northern Blues in Round 17 with a 25-goal effort.

Will Fordham, who finished the season strongly, provided plenty of run and carry. Sam Durdin kicked four goals and had 22 disposals, while Ben McKay took several strong contested marks.

McKay was North’s first pick in the 2015 National Draft, and in the second half of 2016 showed plenty of signs of the key-forward he could one day become at AFL level.

A couple of weeks later, Ed Vickers-Willis was putting his name up for a North debut after a string of impressive matches.

Arguably the most eye-catching of the lot occurred against Footscray, when he took the points in his matchup against Jake Stringer, while also offering offensive drive himself.

Although Mitch Hibberd had an injury-interrupted season, he too showed plenty of promise for the future.

Largely playing off half-back and on the wing, his most impressive game was arguably his final one; registering 34 disposals against Footscray in the penultimate round.

For the Werribee-listed players, Matt Hanson and Tom Gribble were the clear standouts.

Hanson in particular is likely the clear favourite for Werribee’s best and fairest award after putting together an impressive season through the midfield.

He won the ball both inside and outside, and also got on the scoreboard with almost a goal a game.

Gribble had two games of 40+ disposals and was particularly prolific by hand while playing more of an outside role.

Season stats

- Jed Anderson: 2 games, 10 disposals per match, 4 tackles per match
- Aaron Black: 11 games, 11.8 disposals per match, 21 goals
- Ryan Clarke: 12 games, 25.5 disposals per match, 5.5 tackles per match
- Majak Daw: 9 games, 15.9 hit-outs per match, 10.7 disposals per match, 12 goals
- Trent Dumont: 5 games, 26.4 disposals per match, 5.8 tackles per match, 5 inside 50’s per match
- Sam Durdin: 14 games, 10.1 disposals per match, 13 goals
- Will Fordham: 17 games, 19.2 disposals per match, 4.5 marks per match, 9 goals
- Taylor Garner: 2 games, 12 disposals per match, 4 tackles per match
- Lachlan Hansen: 9 games, 14.3 disposals per match, 6.4 marks per match
- Mitch Hibberd: 13 games, 18.8 disposals per match
- Ben Jacobs: 1 game, 17 disposals, 4 marks
- Ben McKay: 15 games, 7.1 disposals per match, 15 goals
- Brad McKenzie: 4 games, 24.8 disposals per match, 6.5 marks per match
- Luke McDonald: 1 game, 20 disposals, 6 marks
- Declan Mountford: 18 games, 16.1 disposals per match, 6.1 tackles per match, 9 goals
- Aaron Mullett: 4 games, 25.3 disposals per match, 6.3 marks per match
- Robbie Nahas: 9 games, 17.2 disposals per match, 5.2 marks per match, 17 goals
- Daniel Nielson: 8 games, 9 disposals per match
- Braydon Preuss: 16 games, 32.9 hit-outs per match, 8.5 disposals per match
- Farren Ray: 6 games, 25 disposals per match, 6.3 marks per match
- Joel Tippett: 14 games, 14.4 disposals per match, 4.5 marks per match
- Kayne Turner: 4 games, 13.3 disposals per match, 7.8 tackles per match
- Ed Vickers-Willis: 13 games, 17.3 disposals per match, 5 tackles per match
- Corey Wagner: 13 games, 12.2 disposals per match, 4.8 tackles per match, 10 goals
- Mason Wood: 2 games, 26 disposals per match, 10 marks per match, 7 goals
- Sam Wright: 1 game, 7 disposals