In his second year with the reigns, head coach Ian Ledder and assistant coach Luke Paramanathan should be pretty happy with how their charges are going, with the Emmaus St Leo’s seniors sitting third on the overall ladder, behind Hawthorn and Parkside who are one game clear. Comprehensive wins over perpetual cellar dwellers in the Westbourne Grammarians and Albert Park by 72 and 153 points respectively has given their percentage a well-needed boost. Their 5-2 win/loss record gives them a good opportunity midway through the season to solidify their top 4 position.
The Animals’ addition of a third men’s side for the 2021 season has added some incredible depth to a squad already full of genuine competitors. Many new faces have run out for Emmaus St Leo’s this year, but the seniors have only debuted eight players, with two of those having played reserves games previously for the club.
It’s always a hard task trying to crack into the Animals’ seniors team, but for Kye Roberts, Callum Dickinson and Jacob Glare, they haven’t looked back in their debut seasons. All three have kicked a goal, and each have taken top honours once, though Roberts’ year has stalled after an injury in round 4 has meant his games tally is stuck at four. Dickinson’s introduction to Emmaus St Leo’s footy has seen him play six games, spending time in the defensive half of the ground, while Glare’s one reserves appearance has turned into five games for the seniors with his attack on the ball crucial in the contests. Off the back of three reserves games, Jacob Anthony made his seniors debut, collecting four goals from four appearances to be best on the ground once.
For those familiar with the Emmaus St Leo’s seniors side, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of returning players contributing to the team’s current success. Captain Harry Davis has doubled his five games played to kick 10 goals, earning a spot on the best players list once with his speed and ability to win the ball from anywhere on the ground. Sam Barrah has returned for his second season after missing 2019, adding seven senior appearances to his two reserves games from 2018, and kicking seven goals to be part of the best twice, while the absence of Hugh Schaeche’s midfield work was keenly felt in the one game he missed due to injury, but has kicked five goals in six games to take top honours twice. Joining Schaeche in the middle has been Ethan Phillips, who’s been part of the best four times and kicked two goals in his seven games, while Nathan Bird’s work all over the ground has seen him score six goals in seven appearances to be best-on twice.
Kieran Mair and Matt Hill have well and truly trademarked their wing positions, both having played all seven games, with the latter adding seven goals and two best-on-ground performances, while Mair’s earned himself one mention on the best players list with his contested ball work. In his 7th season at the club, Dan Hill has been dangerous down forward, kicking 16 goals in seven games to be on the best players list once, while his partner in crime Jack Hunt has made it twice, having kicked 15 goals in six games. Long-serving backman Joden Crothers has appeared in all seven games, taking top honours once and sneaking forward to kick two majors.
Honourable mentions go to Lawrence Virgo, whose 11th year as an Animal has yielded two goals and two best-on-ground performances from his four games, while 2019 reserves premiership coach Tom Clarke’s second year as a player has seen him take over ruck duties, but he’s managed to kick five majors in six games to be named one of the best twice. Fullback Sam Argus’ foray into the forward line was short-lived, but being 100+ points up gave him the opportunity to see what life was like down the other end of the ground. And it was an opportunity he grabbed with both hands, much like the ball he marked following a very forward-like lead in the attacking 50 to kick the second goal of his career, three years after the first one. Moments later, he snapped a second after a contest in the forward pocket, to the delight of every Animal who did or didn’t witness the miracle.
A close loss to Parkside by 5 points and going down to Hawthorn by 34 have been the only real blemishes in an otherwise competitive season so far for the boys in the blue and blue. The team itself has had no real passengers, with only 29 players having had the opportunity to run out onto the field for the Animals this season, with games only missed due to injury. 21 players out of those 29 have all scored at least one goal for the year.
Seven rounds into the 2021 season, and the Emmaus St Leo’s seniors are well poised to attack the latter half of the year. The entire men’s squad is full of depth, meaning they will continue to be a tough challenge regardless of who they face. With a massive spread of players who play their roles well, it really is no wonder they sit at 5-2. When VAFA footy returns and if the fixture doesn’t change, the Animals will have a tough ask when they welcome ladder-leaders Hawthorn to Bennettswood Reserve, with aims of evening out the 2021 ledger at 1-1.