Bennettswood Reserve saw two wins on the first weekend of VAFA football as both the Emmaus St Leo’s seniors and reserves men’s teams left the field and sung the song. The wins came after the unfortunate loss the women’s team received at the hands of the Bulleen-Templestowe Bullants. This week, the Animals take on the Parkside Red Devils, who are currently sitting second on the ladder.
Round one of the 2021 season started off incredibly well for the Emmaus St Leo’s senior men’s team, who systematically dismantled a Westbourne Grammarians outfit who couldn’t take a trick, going down by 72 points, while Parkside comfortably beat Albert Park as 27-point winners.
Head-to-head, the Animals and the Red Devils faced each other twice in 2019, with the boys in blue and blue coming away winners both times to the tune of 50+ points.
The winning team from round one has seen two changes in the lineup, with both players pulling on the blue and blue for the seniors for the first time after putting together fantastic games in the reserves.
Both Mitchell Burrows and Lawrence Virgo are unfortunate to miss due to injury. Tom Clarke and Ben Collins join fullback Sam Argus as the last line of defence, with Zac Kearns, Baxter Newbegin and Joden Crothers at halfback. Matt Hill and Kieran Mair will wander the wings, providing support to Sean Bourke in ruck, and Hugh Schaeche, Michael Davis and Ethan Philips at his feet.
Forward of the ball, formidable goalkicking duo Dan Hill and Jack Hunt will start at full-forward, with Nathan Bird, Kye Roberts, Harry Davis and Sam Barrah all with opportunities to kick majors. On the bench, Callum Dickinson and Zac Durrant are joined by seniors-debutants James Moran and Jacob Glare.
The Animals will be looking to consolidate the comprehensive win from round one when they take the field at 2:00pm. Parkside’s 2019 was one they’d probably like to forget, but they face Emmaus St Leo’s as two and one on the ladder respectively, meaning the scene is set for a fierce battle. Get down to Pitcher Park and cheer the Animals on as they travel away from home for the first time in 2021.
