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. Last up is the Seniors.
Ladder position: 3rd out of 8
Win/loss ratio: 8 wins/3 losses
Summary of season: The first four games of the season were a seesaw for Emmaus St Leo’s, who kickstarted the year with a rousing win at home, only to be humbled in a heart-breaking, final-minutes loss to Parkside the following week. The pattern would repeat for the next two weeks before the Animals steadied the ship, going on to win three in a row before ultimately suffering their final loss of the year, forming a fierce rivalry with Hawthorn to go 0-2 in the process.
In the last three rounds, two separate treks were made to Westbourne Grammar but were well worth it as the Seniors finished off season 2021 with a 150-point win against a helpless Westbourne side. In wet and windy weather, the Animals kicked a casual six goals straight to be up by that many going into the second quarter, where they really put their opponents to the sword. If two seven-goal quarters weren’t enough, the nine majors kicked in the final term really finished off the season well. Dan Hill (9) was an unstoppable force in front of goal all day, while Jesse Collins (3) took best-on honours in a side that had twelve individual goalkickers.
Blue and blue best: For those familiar with the club, it would be no shock at all to know that Harry Davis came runner-up in the divisional best and fairest, earning 15 votes to take second spot. Seven other Animals polled votes, with Dan Hill (7), Jesse Collins (7), Hugh Schaeche (6), Baxter Newbegin (6) all making the top 15.
As for the Emmaus St Leo’s best and fairest, it was close all season, with just three votes collectively separating the top 3. Davis (34) was awarded the Bill Stephen Memorial Trophy, ahead of Newbegin on 32 and Nathan Bird on 21. Equal on 17 points to round out the top 5 was Collins and Ethan Phillips.
For all five players, it was another year of knowing exactly what to expect when they took the field, with Davis’s ability to break packs and get the ball forward at all costs, and Newbegin being an impenetrable wall down back. For both Bird and Phillips, they were named all over the forward half of the ground throughout the year, whether they were providing an option inside 50 and kicking goals or getting into the contests in the middle. Regardless of where Collins’s magnet sat pre-game, his run through the centre of the ground gave his side chances to score each time he took the field.
At Presentation Night, seasoned backman Joden Crothers was awarded Most Improved, Ben Collins was named Most Consistent, while Dan Hill’s heroics in front of goal earned him the Coach’s Award. In his return to the club in 2021 after two games in the reserves in 2018, Sam Barrah’s seniors-debut resulted in the award for Best 1st Year Senior.
Goalkickers (top 10): Dan Hill (30 goals, 11 games), Harry Davis (16, 9), Jack Hunt (15, 7), Nathan Bird (13, 11), Matt Hill (11, 9), Emerson Lemkau (10, 7), Sam Barrah (9, 10), Tom Clarke (9, 10), Hugh Schaeche (7, 10), Lawrence Virgo (7, 8)
Coach’s comments: Men’s head coach Ian Ledder couldn’t talk more highly of his side’s season, believing them to be heading in the right direction. ‘It was great to see the new players who joined the club really immerse themselves into the culture and become an integral part of the playing group, across all squads.
This gave the three [men’s] teams a good depth, and with further development on our game plan/style, I’m sure this will result in more wins across the board. The improvement and dedication even with the disruptions was very impressive, and this was evident with good numbers at training sessions and results on game day.’
With some new additions to the men’s coaching panel, Ledder is excited to see what ideas they can bring to the playing group. ‘We will be on the path for another very competitive season.’
Next year: Ledder returns next season for his fourth season at the helm, while his assistant coach Luke Paramanathan moves on to other coaching opportunities. But Ledder won’t be by himself, as inaugural women’s head coach Roy Fenton steps down from the role that saw him to the Animals and moves to an assistant coach to the men’s Seniors side.