In 2021, Emmaus St Leo’s Football Club once again debuted four teams, who all ran out in the blue and blue (except for that one day where they all wore pink and the club collectively raised $18,744 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation) and played like Animals. In a season interrupted by COVID, to be able to get some footy in was nothing short of fantastic. To send the year off before the club begins its preparation for season 2022’s campaigns, let’s take a brief look at how all four teams finished in 2021. Next up is the Reserves.
Ladder position: 3rd out of 8
Win/loss ratio: 6 wins/5 losses
Summary of season: The Reserves got their 2021 season off to a flyer, with three consecutive wins that included two percentage-boosters against Westbourne and North Brunswick, and a closer one at Pitcher Park against Parkside. The remaining eight games were intriguing to say the least, with a high level of player turnover in the side throughout the year due to injury and the depth of the Emmaus St Leo’s men’s squad.
The first COVID lockdown threw a spanner in the works for the Animals, who went into it off a tough 3-point loss against Canterbury, and seemingly couldn’t regain their footing once footy returned, their last four games resulting in three losses.
The Reserves got themselves back on the winner’s list in round 5, facing a then-unbeaten Richmond Central at Bennettswood Reserve. It was all systems go from the very first bounce as the Animals limited the Snakes to just one goal by quarter time, and three by the main break, taking a 19-point buffer into the second half. Two five-goal quarters then saw the home side home by 56 points. Unstoppable goalkicking duo Dan Quattro (6) and Anthony Smith (5) were at their very best, with the former named best on for the day.
Blue and blue best: In a close finish, first-year Animal and midfield gun Adam Bullivant took out top spot in the club’s best and fairest to be awarded the Kieran Martin Memorial Trophy, finishing on 25 votes, just three ahead of Emmaus St Leo’s favourite Nic Glanville, whose late run home saw him into second spot with 22. Connor Leevers (15), whose form in the twos resulted in a seniors-debut, came third, while two first-year Animals in Cameron Price and Dan Quattro rounded out the top 5, equal on 13.
Price’s first Reserves game came after just one game in the Thirds to show his craft, where he became a dependable backman, earning his Most Improved award at the club’s Presentation Night. Quattro, who took out Most Consistent, earned a Seniors call-up late in the season.
In his third season at the club, Jack Gibbons was awarded the Coach’s Award.
Goalkickers (top 10): Anthony Smith (35 goals, 11 games), Dan Quattro (21, 8), Kieren Jenkins (10, 5), Adam Bullivant (8, 9), Matthew Price (7, 10), Thomas McBride (6, 5), Harry McConnell (5, 10), Isaac Waite (5, 6), Guy Donovan (4, 4), Steve Jones (4, 10)
Coach’s comments: First-year Reserves coach Keegan Ledder was ecstatic with the way his side started off the year, lauding the new faces who brought speed and youth.
‘For the first few games, we were playing great footy, and then Howie [Sean Howard, Reserves Captain], decided he should do his knee and not play for the rest of the year…,’ Ledder laughs, lamenting the loss. ‘As a team, we played a lot of good footy, but we were always looking to improve. Individually, there were plenty of deserved promotions to the ones, proving that brilliant, consistent efforts were being noticed and rewarded.’
A few of Ledder’s favourite moments from the season include the numerous run and carries from the wings and halfback, ‘DQ’s [Dan Quattro] goal celebrations, and having Kieren [Jenkins] finally come back twelve weeks after a two-week injury.’
Next year: It’ll be Ledder leading the Reserves once again next season as he aims to lead his side to finals glory, a la 2019. He’s excited to see familiar faces, and eager to see how everyone performs next year.