Like all good things, Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team’s 2019 season must come to an end and it will, this Saturday against the Hampton Rovers at Boss James Reserve for their last game of the year. Bennettswood Reserve is once again empty for the second weekend in a row with the men’s teams taking on North Brunswick at Allard Park, aiming to continue their run to finals. But it’s a bittersweet feeling for the Animalettes, whose second season has been up and down for the most part. But on the back on determination and teamwork, they’ve made it one to remember and will look to finish off with a bang.
Hampton are coming into the game off a pretty convincing win against Oakleigh, with Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team feeling a bit worse for wear after taking the game to the Preston Bullants who ran away winners. Win, lose or draw, Hampton won’t move from their position in third on the ladder, but the Animalettes have an opportunity to finish further up if they win, depending on other results from the weekend.
Team selection news has more than one on the bench for the first time in a couple of weeks. In the backline, Dee Burden, Sam Bridgland, and Bec Herne will start, with Shino Walsh, Claire Anderson and Soraya Jeanes at halfback. On the wings will be Emily Kerr and Ash Morley, while Maddy Hogan will start in ruck with Shellby Lonie, Tara Ingham and Sarah Morley at her feet. Jess Evans, Sheridan Harris, Kate Lucas and Kate Fletcher will stretch out across half forward, and Bridget Monaghan and Shannon Harris beginning the game in their usual spot of deep in the forward 50. Caroline Simon, Delaney Morvell, and Sarah Dawson round out the bench.
Running out on to the field for the last time in 2019, the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team will look to set the benchmark for their 2020 campaign. Despite not-ideal circumstances, they’ve pulled together every week and put every ounce of Animals spirit into every game. Can the Animalettes grind out another gritty win and finish their season off with a fifth win? Will they get the scoreboard reward they’ve been searching for all season? Get down to Boss James Reserve and find out. First bounce is at 10:30am.
