Shaun Mannagh. Sam Clohesy. Aidan Johnson. Jack Henderson. Riley Bice.

Over the past 18 months, five players from VFL powerhouse Werribee Tigers have been drafted to the AFL, whilst captain Dom Brew was agonisingly close after spending the summer at the Western Bulldogs as an SSP option.

The quintet of mature-age stars followed a long line of Tigers players who made it from Chirnside Park to the big time.

Michael Barlow, James Podsiadly and Dale Morris are three of the best experienced recruits this century, but they also spent large chunks of time at the standalone club.

And there could be more to come.

In the past two seasons at VFL level, Werribee has reached the grand final with one defeat and one triumph, placing them atop of the reserves competition despite facing 14 - of 21 - teams who have an AFL affiliate.

Bice, who only spent 2024 at Avalon before he got swooped on by Sydney, said there's a reason why players head there.

"I think the people there, the environment they've created is a big driver of (players getting drafted)," Bice told ZeroHanger.

"Obviously, part of the reason I went there was a few OM boys were playing in that team, and they spoke highly of the club.

"When I got there, it was so obvious of that. They've got a really good development program running to develop the younger boys and it all adds up and was a big reason for the success of the last two years."

Brew's persistence nearly culminated into an AFL opportunity, but Bice, who thinks his former captain deserves to be on a list, has named a pair of other Tigers who are in the mix.

"To be honest, I think there's a fair few boys at Werribee who definitely can be on a list," Bice continued.

 

"Dom [Brew] is very stiff to not be playing AFL at the moment. Jack Riding. He's a very handy player, and I think he's pretty close. Louis Pinnuck also."

Riding has already been watched closely by AFL recruiters, and his 26 games in the yellow and black have impressed, slotting 19 goals and averaging 17.5 disposals, 4.8 marks and 3.9 tackles.

Pinnuck, 26, will enter his fifth season at the Tigers as a hard-running midfielder, capable of playing across all lines and is still holding out hope for an AFL lifeline.

Podsiadly, who won a premiership at Geelong in 2011, debuted at 28.

The pair, along with Brew, were named in the marquee Smithy's VFL State Team clash against the SANFL, which will be played during the AFL's Gather Round.

Riding and Pinnuck have both made positive starts to the 2025 season.