In the wise words of Meatloaf, two out of three ain’t bad, and that’s what Emmaus St Leo’s delivered at Bennettswood Reserve on Saturday, as all three home teams ran out in pink jerseys to celebrate the sixth annual Mother’s Day ladies luncheon to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Elsewhere, the Thirds put up a fight against the Monash Blues but ultimately fell short by 64 points. The reserves humbled an unbeaten Richmond Central side, while the Animals seniors systematically dismantled the Snakes’ seniors to see themselves into the top four at the end of round five. But it was the women’s team who kicked off proceedings with their traditional early morning start as they took the field against Power House, losing by 65 points.
Slow starts could well and truly be trademarked by the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team as it took just the first centre bounce tap down from Power House’s ruck, then two clean positions before they kicked the first goal of the game, much to the chagrin of, well, everybody else. The visitors went into the first break 21 points up, as Animals Head Coach Roy Fenton gave his charges an arguably-deserved quarter time spray for the second week in a row. It worked, just slightly, as Power House added three more goals to head into half time 42-0, but there were whisperings of promise by the Animals.
The third quarter was their best, limiting Power House to just one goal and one point as the ball spent the majority of term in the Animals’ forward half, resulting in four behinds for their efforts. Emma Johnson was on the receiving end of a free kick, which gifted her a set shot right in front of goal. But in what is fast becoming an if-you-don’t-laugh-you’ll-cry situation, missed to the left, thus inducting her into the metaphorical Shankers Anonymous of 2021, joining the likes of fellow teammates Ash Morley and Shannon Harris, as well as Richmond forward Tom Lynch. In the final term, Power House kicked another three majors to take the game 0.4.4 to 10.9.69.
Vic Holt was, as is clearly becoming the usual, named best-on for the Animals, with Bridget Crowe, Dee Burden, Sam Hogarth, Emma Johnson and Molly Tancred all riding shotgun and getting the rewards for their efforts on the field.
The Animals women’s team have this weekend off, as the VAFA-restructuring of the women’s divisions has not only seen Emmaus St Leo’s out of Division 3 and into Division 4, but with a bye to begin their next phase of the year. The following week they travel to Pitcher Park to face Parkside. All three men’s teams will be still donning the blue and blue on Saturday though, as the reserves and seniors take on two winless Albert Park teams at home, while the Thirds face Elsternwick at Elsternwick Park. Even though your favourite Animal mightn’t be playing this weekend, get down to Bennettswood Reserve at the very least, and cheer on the men!