Werribee v Southport VFL grand final: Paul Amy’s ultimate guide to the 2024 decider

The Bees and Sharks both have history on the line in the VFL grand final. PAUL AMY looks at the state of play for both clubs, names the key players and reveals who the experts are tipping.

Paul Amy

@paulamy375

6 min read

September 21, 2024 - 10:00AM

Werribee coach Jimmy Allan, captain Dom Brew, Southport Sharks captain Brayden Crossley and coach Steve Daniel pose with the trophy ahead of the VFL grand final. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

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Werribee is out to break a drought.

Southport is aiming to break through.

Sunday’s VFL grand final at IKON Park, Carlton, will either end a 31-year gap between premierships for the Bees or produce a first VFL flag for the Sharks.

It’s the only time since the competition revamp of 2000 that no AFL club has had an involvement in the state league season-decider. A standalone team will be crowned premier for the first time since the Gary Ayres-coached Port Melbourne in 2017.

The Bees last lifted the cup in 1993 under Donald McDonald and have since endured four grand final defeats.

The Gold Coast club joined the league in 2021 and is chasing its first premiership in the competition as it tries to send out popular coach Steve Daniel in triumph. Former AFL coach Matthew Primus is taking over next year.

Werribee lost last year’s grand final to Gold Coast Suns by 19 points and soon after lost coach Michael Barlow to AFL club North Melbourne. It also farewelled a group of senior players, including AFL draftees Shaun Mannagh and Sam Clohesy, two-time JJ Liston Trophy winner Tommy Gribble, four-time best and fairest Matt Hanson and ex-skipper Michael Sodomaco.

Jimmy Allan was appointed to replace Barlow. The former Geelong rookie played with the Bees in 2005 and ‘06 before heading to South Australia, where he won three Magarey Medals.

Without the weekly 70 possessions generated by Gribble and Hanson, it was widely thought Werribee would drop a few places on the ladder this year. Instead, it soared to its first minor premiership since 2005 with a 15-3 record.

Allan, 39, has recast the team with a dozen first and second-year players supporting this year’s runaway JJ Liston Trophy winner Dom Brew, captain Nick Coughlan, Louis Pinnuck, draft hopeful Jack Henderson, Nick Hayes and Nathan Cooper.

Riley Bice, Cooper Whyte, Aidan Johnson, Sam Azzi, Flynn Young, Jack Riding, Jake Smith, Zac Banch, Jay Dahlhaus, Jaelen Pavlidis, Connor Thar, Stefan Radovanovic and Sam Conway all played in the preliminary final over Brisbane, but not in last year’s grand final.

Werribee’s Louis Pinnuck in action against Southport last month. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

“The expectations from some might have been that we might slide this year a little bit, so really proud of the way the group’s come together and we’ve been able to, I guess, get to the same point as we were last year,’’ Allan said at a grand final press call.

“Whether that means we’ve met the challenge and lived up to expectations, I’m not too sure, but I’m really proud of what our group has been able to do so far.’’

Asked about the departures and the motivation among the returning players, Allan said: “To be honest, I think the motivation they get from that is probably the guys who are on the cusp of playing and didn’t get a chance, now get an opportunity. They may have seen an opening and that may have motivated them. I think what you’ll find as well … is that footy clubs move on pretty quickly. There’s turnover every year, especially in this competition.’’

Brew will lead the Werribee team out in the absence of the injured Coughlan. The brick-hard left-footer has racked up accolades this season, captaining the state team in Adelaide, being named skipper of the VFL team of the year, winning the Coaches’ MVP and polling 31 votes to streak away with the Liston.

What’s next for him? His many supporters are hoping a premiership medal or even a Norm Goss Medal as best-afield in the grand final.

Dom Brew kicks for Werribee in its prelim final win over Brisbane Lions. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Sharks – grand finalists in 2022 – have produced three outstanding finals performances in as many weeks, flattening Frankston and coming to Victoria to defeat Geelong and then Footscray Bulldogs. Cult hero ruckman Brayden Crossley and champion midfielders Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock have been at the heart of their late-season surge.

The grand final marks the end of Daniel’s successful tenure with Southport. The former successful Goulburn Valley coach joined the club from Gold Coast Suns in 2018 and kicked off with a premiership in the old NEAFL. He’s staying at Southport as director of coaching.

Werribee and Southport met twice during the season and both matches produced close results: a three-point win to the Bees in Round 2 at Fankhauser Reserve, and a win to the Sharks by six points in Round 19 at Chirnside Park.

McDonald will present the premiership cup if Werribee wins and Southport CEO and hall of fame player Dean Bowtell will hand it over if the Sharks prevail. Mannagh, last year’s winner, will award the Norm Goss Medal.

The match starts at 3.10pm.

Ben Jepson will be another key player for the Sharks. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

BUZZA OUT TO BEAT BEES

There will be a buzz about Sunday’s VFL grand final at IKON Park – and not only because the Bees are playing.

Bouncy Wylie Buzza will line up for Southport against his former club Werribee as the Sharks attempt to win their first VFL premiership.

Buzza, 28, joined Southport this season after playing for Brisbane’s VFL team in 2022 and ’23. The former Geelong forward had a stint with Werribee in 2021 following his delisting by Port Adelaide.

He was a popular figure at Chirnside Park. But on Sunday, he’ll be a player Werribee will have to clamp if it is to win its first premiership since 1993. Team-of-the-year defender Nathan Cooper will be out to beat Buzza.

“This is my first granny at senior level … it’s over 10 years since I played in an under-age granny for the Mt Gravatt colts in the QAFL,’’ Buzza said.

“At my age, it’s the only reason you play at this level, to win a premiership. I couldn’t be more excited, to be honest.

“Our football club doesn’t try to hide away from the fact that they want to be the best and continually make finals and win finals. They recruited strongly and across the board we’ve got genuine stars on every line. I’m privileged to be playing with a lot of great footballers who have an appetite to win.’’

Buzza missed some football at the start of the season after his wife gave birth to twin daughters.

He is one of three ex-Werribee players who will run out for the Sharks on Sunday; Max Spencer and Keegan Gray will also encounter a few familiar faces. Gray played for the Bees in last year’s grand final against Gold Coast Suns and performed well.

Sharks coach Steve Daniel said Buzza offered leadership and a focal point on the ground and “charisma’’ around the club.

“He’s a very talented footballer and he’s a quality person, absolute quality,’’ he said.

Wylie Buzza lines up for goal against Geelong during the VFL finals. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

KEY GRAND FINAL PLAYERS

WERRIBEE

Dom Brew: The tough left-footer has won everything bar the half-time raffle this year and it would be in keeping with a glorious season if he was to land the Norm Goss Medal as best-afield. With Nick Coughlan out injured, Brew will captain the Bees in the GF.

Riley Bice: The left-foot defender from Albury has enjoyed an outstanding first season in the VFL, pushing into the team of the year and winning attention from AFL recruiters with his precise left foot and poise.

Louis Pinnuck: The long-serving defender is unheralded but not to be underestimated. Must have given the team of the year a nudge after leading the competition in marks (162) and averaging 19.3 possessions.

Hudson Garoni: The tall forward has given Werribee strong service this season, kicking 48 goals (and 26 points) from 20 matches. His long arms will have the Sharks reaching to keep him out of the game.

Hudson Garoni. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

SOUTHPORT

Boyd Woodcock: The former Port Adelaide AFL player has done this year what he did in 2022 and ’23: pile up the possessions in the midfield and finish in the top three in the JJ Liston Trophy count. A champion of the VFL.

Jacob Dawson: With Woodcock, the former Gold Coast Sun forms a dynamic onball duo for the Sharks. Had 28 possessions last week against the Bulldogs and has averaged 31.1 from 20 games this year. He could find the ball in a deep fog.

Brayden Crossley: Eyebrows were elevated when the big man was missing from the VFL team of the year last Monday. Two days earlier he had 71 hit-outs against Footscray. Werribee will be putting much thought into how it can dim Crossley’s thunder.

Jacob Heron: Werribee will be well aware of the pacy right-footer’s ability to burst out of contests and break lines. He was among the best in the Sharks’ rousing win at Chirnside Park in Round 19, kicking three goals and having 27 touches. In his case, speed thrills.