AN impressive practice match display has been enough for Newcomb captain Logan Wagener to secure a spot on the list of VFL club Werribee for the 2021 season.
Tigers coach Michael Barlow confirmed to krockfootball.com.au the reigning Power best-and-fairest had done enough to make the final cut.
“It’s an obscure path for him, but he’s put his best foot forward to get an opportunity,” Barlow said.
“The way he’s trained and his attitude has been absolutely first class.”
Wagener played a pressure forward role in Werribee’s practice match win over Sandringham last weekend, which was the last chance for list hopefuls to press their claims.
“He was always one we wanted to see in a competitive environment, and that’s what practice matches provide,” Barlow said.
“He was absolutely outstanding with his forward pressure and his ability to tackle and keep the ball in our forward half, which was what we were looking for.
“But, ultimately, it was 4-5 months of hard work we witnessed.
“Yes, he’s got his limitations, but his effort and desire for the contest, and desire to be a team-first player, won him a spot on the list.”
Barlow says the former Geelong Falcon and Leopold premiership player isn’t without a chance to make his VFL debut in Round 1 on April 17.
“He’ll be thereabouts,” Barlow said. “We’re in the pretty fortunate position at the moment that we’re pretty fit and healthy.
“We have one more practice match, where we’ll only look to play 24-26 players that will make up the basis of our Round 1 side.
“He’ll be right the mix for that practice match against Richmond a week out from the season.”
Wagener is one of 14 Werribee players aligned AFL Barwon clubs in 2021.
Tigers captain Michael Sodomaco and former Geelong Falcons skipper Jesse Clark will have St Joseph’s as their interchange club,
Former Geelong and Port Adelaide forward Wylie Buzza, Joe Maishman, Jack Henderson, Max Augerinos, Darcy Chrigwin and Jay Dahlhaus are aligned to St Mary’s.
Keegan Gray and Aiden Domic will again link-up with Bell Park and Tylar Watts, and Emmanuel Ajang to Geelong West.
Reigning Liston Trophy winner Tom Gribble will be available to Newtown & Chilwell in the highly unlikely event he’s not required at Werribee.
Gribble’s younger brother Noah, captain Gennaro Bove and Archie Hildebrandt are the Geelong Falcons who have aligned to Werribee.
Twitter: @tom_king79
