Hampden footballers ready for 2020 season with VFL club Werribee

Werribee signed NAB League graduates Emmanuel Ajang (South Warrnambool) and Toby Mahony (Camperdown) for the 2020 season after impressive performances for Greater Western Victoria Rebels.

The pair will live together in Geelong and continue training three nights a week with the Mark 'Choco' Williams-coached Tigers.

Ajang, 18, has picked Geelong West Giants as his feeder club while Mahony, 18, hopes to retain his links with Camperdown.

Athletic utility Ajang said he had trained with Werribee since November and was relishing the elite environment.

"It gives it more of a professional feel because half the players have been on an AFL list and you get to see how they prepare and how they train. It's pretty unreal," he said.

Ajang is tempering his expectations and is hopeful rather than confident of featuring in the Tigers' line-up early in the season.

"I don't want to get my hopes up too early but I will try and train hard and try and get as many games as I can," he said.

"I want to learn as much and try and become a better player, that is the goal.

"It's been the longest pre-season for and it's so hard as well but I am keen for it to start."

Midfielder-forward Mahony said learning from AFL premiership coach Williams and ex-AFL players Michael Barlow and Matthew Lobbe would be beneficial.

"'Choco' is a good character. You never know what to expect from him or what you'll get from him but he knows his stuff," he said.

Mahony said getting a game for the Tigers, who have the bye in round one and kick off their season in round two on Saturday, April 10, would be a challenge given the talent at the coaches' disposal.

"It is hard to tell with so many good people on the list," he said of his chances.

"Hopefully I'll get games throughout the season and slowly work away at it."

Ajang and Mahony will also live with Hampden export Tylar Watts, who is preparing for his second season at Werribee.

Ajang said moving away from home with friends would be a positive as he adapted to a new environment.

"It will make things a lot more comfortable. I am moving in with them as well, so it definitely makes it easier for me knowing people up there," he said.

"It's going to be a really good experience, going into the real world, moving away from mum."

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