THE 2024 Werribee premiership team has produced three AFL exports, with Norm Goss Medallist Jack Henderson joining Aidan Johnson at Melbourne, and dasher Riley Bice being drafted by Sydney. That came after Shaun Mannagh‘s exploits in the 2023 decider led to him being picked up by Geelong.

Plying his trade alongside each of those players across 110 games with the Bees has been Louis Pinnuck. A graduate of the Murray Bushrangers program, Pinnuck was invited to two state draft combines (2016 & 2019) and despite strong results to compliment his form, has been overlooked at each draft.

He put his name back on the radar in Saturday’s State Game, taking out the Frank Johnson Medal as best afield for the VFL in its first win over the SANFL since 2002. It came after he was forced to withdraw from last year’s clash with a corkie. We put his performance under the Player Focus microscope.

WerribeeDefender

Louis Pinnuck

Height: 187cm

Weight: -

DOB: 24-09-1998

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 State Game
SANFL 15.13 (103) def. by VFL 18.6 (114)

#9 Louis Pinnuck (VFL)
Stats: 21 disposals (15 kicks), 6 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

LOUIS PINNUCK!!!

?: Watch the AAMI State Game on 7mate and 7plus pic.twitter.com/k0ZOJoEYfa

— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) April 12, 2025

FIRST QUARTER:

Pinnuck made a bright start, immediately showing pride in the jumper with his efforts in the opening minutes. He first brought down charging SANFL ruck Cameron McGree to earn a high fend-off free kick, before nearly taking a sensational intercept mark going back with the flight in defensive 50.

Arguably Pinnuck’s best traits are his offensive ones, though, and his penetrative kicking aided Victoria’s lethally efficient attacking swarms. He fanned the play wide to a wing for Kye Declase to take ground and charge forward for Corey Ellison to dob the VFL’s first goal, after the SANFL had early field position.

Later, he launched a long rebound 50 kick which snuck over the back onto the wing, allowing the Victorian runners to latch onto it and send Jacob Heron into goal. Such plays made Pinnuck the source of fruitful transitions, with the VFL being more direct to lead with less forward 50 entries (10-17).

SECOND QUARTER:

Pinnuck continued to be polished when mopping up the spills across defensive 50, relieving pressure with sharp handling and quick possessions. He just as easily picked off targets in slow play, spreading the ball laterally and taking on kicks which others wouldn’t have the license to.

He also got to showcase his willingness to compete again when standing under a high ball at the top of defensive 50, accounting for his opponent before snaffling the intercept mark with nice judgement. While unused, Pinnuck generally tracked the ball well through the corridor in attacking phases.

THIRD QUARTER:

The Croweaters made an early burst, booting three goals in a scintillating six minutes before the Vics had even had an effective disposal. The lead was cut back to two points at three-quarter time thanks to consecutive Boyd Woodcock goals, with Pinnuck having a hand in the second.

In a subtle bit of foreshadowing for his fourth quarter exploits, Pinnuck got on his bike to join the VFL’s attack, receiving a handball at half-forward before punting a long kick which again snuck over the back of a contest for Woodcock to latch onto.

Pinnuck had earlier run hard off the line at the centre bounce, generating some overlap with a well-timed receive. He also got a chance at the kick-ins and opted for distance, while continuing to use the ball neatly with quick short-range passes in the VFL’s kick-mark passages.

FOURTH QUARTER:

A see-sawing final quarter was where Pinnuck made his mark. The Vics went bang-bang to take the lead early on, before South Australia snatched it back with three goals in four minutes. Pinnuck would be the VFL’s hero, taking on his moment to kick two of the game’s last four goals for a breakthrough victory.

A turnover kick into the corridor signalled his intent, looking to make high-risk, high-reward plays to win the match. He went on to sink an absolute bomb to take the lead, boldly wheeling around the man on the mark from inside the centre square before sending the ball through the big sticks.

Pinnuck again floated up around centre half-forward as the VFL attacked, and timed his run well in a chain of handballs, getting on the end of the final one to slot his second goal on the run and create a decisive buffer. His deadeye finishing was indicative of the VFL’s overall game.

The Victorians had 11 individual goalkickers, with Pinnuck among the five with multiples, and booted a winning total with four less scoring shots. Their 18.6 scoreline reflected a ruthlessly clinical performance, and one which Pinnuck put the cherry on top of to ultimately salute.