Werribee VFL coach Jimmy Allan believes that premiership star Jack Henderson will be ready to step up at AFL level, should West Coast give him the chance. 

The 24 year-old has landed in Perth and will be trying out for a position on West Coast list with less than three weeks remaining in the pre-season supplemental signing period.

A spot on West Coast’s list became vacant after premiership hero Dom Sheed went down with season-ending ACL injury at training last week. 

If the Werribee product receives the nod, the Eagles will have to put Sheed, who underwent a knee reconstruction last week, on the inactive list. 

The Werribee midfielder is vying for one of two spots on West Coast’s list – with former Sun Sandy Brock and ex-Saint James Van Es also competiting for a place ahead of the February 21 deadline. 

Speaking to SportFM, Allan – who coached Henderson last season, believes he is ‘ready to go.’

“If (he does) get a opportunity, I hope the intention is play him straight away. 

“I don’t see the value of him coming over and playing WAFL in this case because he’s shown that he’s good enough. He’s probably too good to play at VFL level. 

“I’d be hoping that the intention is to come over and play him in straight away.”  

Henderson plays as an inside midfielder and has received plaudits for his ability to kick goals and stand up in key moments, delivering a best-on-ground performance in last year’s VFL Grand Final for Werribee. 

He racked up 23 possessions, kicked two goals, and had eight tackles and seven marks. 

Across the 21 games he played last season, he averaged 21 touches, 5 tackles, 4 marks and kicked 15 goals. 

Allan says a resume like Henderson’s shouldn’t hurt his chances to make it onto the Eagles’ list.

“With Hendo it wasn’t a matter of ‘I need to go out and put on a show to get drafted’. He just did what he did every week and did whatever we asked of him,” he said.

“I think that’s what AFL clubs are looking for. They’re looking for guys who can play roles and fit into different systems.

“Jack will do that whether he gets an opportunity to play in the midfield or forward or set down back. He just did whatever we asked of him every week. 

“In the Grand Final he had a couple of really big moments in the third quarter when we needed someone to stand up and I’m sure that didn’t hurt his chances of getting an opportunity at the top level.”  

Henderson is the lastest Werribee product to get an opportunity at AFL level, with Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh, Riley Brice, Aiden Johnson and Sam Clohesy all getting called up to the next level in recent years.

Premiership captain Dom Brew is also currently training with the Bulldogs, hoping to earn a spot on their list. 

With that, Werribee has earned the reputation for being a footy factory for mature aged players in recent years. 

“I think culturally, the club’s in fantastic shape,” said Allan. 

“We’re a community club. We’re one of seven standalone clubs in the VFL, so there’s 21 clubs, 14 of those are aligned or a reserve side.

“I guess the benefit of that is we’re really able to set ourselves up like a local footy club that plays at a high level.

“Our guys are really invested. we’ve got a big emphasis on being a community club, we support our community. Get guys out spreading the word and doing what we can to help develop talent in our area.

“We invest like a lot in the development space, we’ve got a head of development who looks after who looks after all that and their job is to try and prepare these guys to play the best footy they can.

“It’s done as well as I’ve seen at any club that I’ve been to.“

IMAGE: Werribee FC