Werribee's Jack Riding is too good to be playing VFL football, and seemingly everyone knows it.

The damaging midfielder flirted with a list spot at Hawthorn last summer, putting his best foot forward in an SSP audition that ultimately did not fall his way.

He went back to work.

A season later, on the heels of another inclusion in the VFL Team of the Year squad, and likely, final team, Riding spoke to Zero Hanger about his year, Werribee's year, and the uptick in confidence the praise of James Hird gave the flaming-locked midfielder as he hunts his golden ticket.

On first contact, Jack's belief in himself is striking. When asked where that stems from, the aforementioned work was his answer.

"(I've got such) a level of belief in a body of work…over the last two or three years in particular. I think having that little stint at Hawthorn this pre-season (grew my confidence)," Riding told this masthead.

"I feel I'm a versatile player. When I was at Hawthorn and (around the) mid-season (draft) this year, clubs were looking at me as a winger, and I played a bit of half back but I feel like my best is a half-forward midfielder.

"I've never been more ready. I think just inner belief and being able to execute come game days, being consistent with my level of performance has given me massive belief in myself, which I think you need in any sport."

That belief only continues to grow, with Riding's cup filled by the stint at Hawthorn, around the game's elite.

"(The Hawthorn experience gave me) a level of understanding. Going through different ways, (and seeing) how the best do it. Seeing how they go about things and running patterns and different ways you can beat your opponent.

"I think just training with them gave me a level of assurance - I felt like I did belong and I didn't feel like I wasn't too out of place. "

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For the uninitiated, Riding is one of the reserves competition's premium two-way midfielders.

He posted 23.6 disposals, seven score involvements and more than a goal a game for Dan Lowther's Werribee outfit this season, while notching almost six tackles per game too.

The defensive aspect of his game has never been something Riding has had to think about.

"Coming off my shoulder reconstruction last year, attacking this preseason, I just want to get that (my shoulder) strong, (and get) the confidence in that," he said.

"I felt like I was a pretty good ‘two sides of the ball' player, on defence and offence. I feel like I've got some strong offensive weapons but it comes off the back of my defence and my pressure and my tackling.

"I'll try and make my presence felt going into games; I've always been a relatively good tackler and I just love getting in the contest and being hard at it. I don't think about it too much, (it) just comes comes naturally.

Riding described Werribee's crushing straight-sets exit from this year's VFL final series as "abrupt", but is proud of the group's ability to recalibrate given significant changes in personnel in recent years.

"Yes, (it was a) pretty tough way to finish - an abrupt way to finish - after a relatively really successful home and away season, finishing second. We won nine on the bounce throughout the year.

"Post-game, we spoke about (how) there was so much pride in where we came from last year, finishing 14th or 15th and being a little bit gutted by injuries and the (National) Draft in ‘24. Also, a few of our players left through retirement after we won the flag.

"So last year was a little bit tough and I think coming into this year, picking up some some good VFL recruits and good VFL players from other clubs really set us up for a good year.

"A tough way to finish but I think there's a level of optimism that we can really look at the foundations for the start of pre-season next year, to attack that head on with a new coach, Dan (Lowther)."

However, a shining light from that disappointing finals series was the buzz that Riding's own play generated.

That buzz came in the form of exceptionally high praise from one of the game's greats, in James Hird.

Director of coaching at Port Melbourne, Hird was given a front row seat to Riding's game in a qualifying final, and liked what he saw, stating Riding should "absolutely" be playing in the AFL

They are words that meant a lot to the 25-year-old North Ballarat product.

"That was really nice of ‘Hirdy' to say that - he's so highly respected in the industry and to hear him say what he said about my ability and my game, it was really, really nice to hear," Riding said.

"It solidifies a bit of belief in myself, that others are seeing that - I've just got to keep working hard, and hopefully an opportunity presents itself in the draft this year, or the SSP period."

While he hasn't had any contact with Hird directly, the praise of a man who looms as one due for a return to clubland in some capacity bodes well, as Riding and his management engage in conversations with "a few clubs".

"We're working through a few things with my manager at the moment, and there's a few clubs out there that are keeping an eye on me. It's all sounding relatively positive at the moment but I know there's plenty of moving parts.

"I just hope I can get a chance, and I feel like if anyone takes a chance on me, they won't regret it."

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