After a weekend to arguably forget, Emmaus St Leo’s will be looking to the coming weekend for a chance to regroup as a club. This Saturday marks the fourth year running for the Mother’s Day ladies’ luncheon event, with all proceeds going directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, a cause dear to the hearts of so many Animals. It’s also the second year of the triple header that accompanies the ladies’ luncheon, with all three teams running out in pink jumpers this year in support. Last weekend, the focus wasn’t on the scoreboard for Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team, with the fundamentals being the key factor in having the opportunity to walk off the ground with their heads high despite a loss.
This Saturday, the Animalettes face Oakleigh, a team new to Division 3. Their 2-point win against Swinburne University last weekend should have them have them coming into the game the favourites, given that it shot them up to 4th on the ladder, and knocking Emmaus St Leo’s down to 5th, but it doesn’t. Both teams sit on 8 points, with Oakleigh only up due to a superior percentage of 41.50% to Emmaus St Leo’s 38.16%. The Animalettes will be looking for some sort of redemption, and be aiming to start off the weekend right for the ladies’ luncheon.
It’s round 5 but Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team is still debuting players, with Grace de Cesare getting her first opportunity to don the blue and blue jumper on the only weekend when players run out in pink! Deep in the backline is the formidable trio of Brooke Chapman, Claire Anderson and Sam Bridgland with Bec Herne, Kayla Hetherington and Dee Burden providing support at halfback. In the centre, Jess Dawson, Rhiannon Stute and de Cesare will be joined by Maddy Hogan, Shanelle Blachford and Tara Ingham onball. With coaches sticking to a formula that works, the half-forward line consists of Amy Ronchi, Sally Hood, Shellby Lonie, and Kate Lucas, as Bridget Monaghan and Shannon Harris will both start deep in the forward 50. Rounding out the bench is Paige Nash who is hopefully back from a stint in the VFLW, Sheridan Harris, Delaney Morvell, Sarah Smith, Sam Hogarth, and Ashleigh Morley. Named emergencies are Kate Fletcher and Cassy Dutton.
The ladies’ luncheon event that Emmaus St Leo’s holds every year provides the biggest opportunity for the club itself to show how much of a family it really is. The Animalettes will look to get a fast start on a team only in the top 4 by a small percentage. Will the pink jumpers be a lucky charm? Can Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team jump ahead on the ladder and improve their percentage? Get down to Bennettswood Reserve this Saturday for what will be an incredible day, with wins on the scoreboards only being bonuses, and find out. First bounce is at 9.20, and stick around to see the men’s teams take on Manningham!
