By LIAM TWOMEY
WERRIBEE has named an 11-man leadership group for the 2014 VFL season.
New coach John Lamont made the announcement at the club’s season launch last week.
The group will be made up of Jarred Moore, Ben Warren, Scott Sherlock, Jarrod Mather, Ben Speight, Michael Sodomaco, Sam Wormald, Nathan Laracy, Addam Maric, Trent Shinners and Jake Wilson.
“I have just been so pleased with the amount of ownership and buy-in that these blokes have had,” Lamont said.
“Seven or eight of them were in the leadership group last year so they have been through a process where their peers voted for them. They were returning and we did a vote from the playing group and added some new ones in.
“I think it will accelerate their development as leaders and hopefully increase their enjoyment.”
As part of the move, Werribee will have a rotating captain throughout the season.
Despite being in his first year at Werribee, Lamont has previously worked with a number of the Tigers’ players through the club’s alignment with North Melbourne.
“In my whole experience in Victoria I have had JL (Lamont) looking over my shoulder,” former Kangaroo Warren said.
“When I found out he was the coach it was obviously exciting.
“It has also been interesting to see how he has developed. I’ve never known JL as the head of a team, I’ve only known him as sticking to the structures at North Melbourne and what the AFL alignment gives you.
“It has been very interesting to see that whole process and the whole playing group have really enjoyed this 2013-’14 pre-season and we are looking forward to the season coming.”
As well as the coaching change, there will be a number of new faces at Werribee with the Tigers adding Jesse Crichton (Fremantle), Ben Speight (North Melbourne), Meyrick Buchanan (Geelong Falcons), Nick Maric (Coburg) and Jason Robinson (Western Jets) to their 2014 playing list.
Some of the main players not returning include Ben McKinley, Brett Meredith, Kris Pendlebury, Robbie Castello and Scott Clouston.
Lamont is confident his team has what it takes to make an impact at the business end of the season.
“If we get into the finals, I’ll back them right now that they will win at least one final,” he said.
“The coaches and I will provide them with that direction, hopefully there is enough satisfaction along the way that they have made finals and then we put it all on the line and win one. Hopefully we can win one and then win two but that is a long way along.”
Werribee will kick off its 2014 campaign against Box Hill this week.
