For the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team, life has been anything but boring in 2021 and has been a rollercoaster to say the least. After five winless games in Division 3, the Animals were moved to Division 4 after the VAFA’s annual reshuffling of the women’s fixtures, and began their new divisional journey with a bye. It turned out to be the best thing for them, as they took home the four points in their second first game of the year.
As has become the unfortunate custom of the women’s team since they began, with the end of the 2019 season and 2020 being, um, terrible, the side saw a lot of player turnover, with only ten returning. But with that saw huge recruiting efforts, plus the introduction of the Emmaus St Leo’s Women’s Academy, and numbers were replenished, much to the delight of all those involved.
The unfamiliar faces of the Animals women’s side are the ones carrying the torch at this stage of the season, with Vic Holt’s first year in the blue and blue unsurprisingly yielding six best-on-ground performances from six games with her work off halfback and through the middle giving life to her team’s ball movement, while Molly Tancred’s ruck work is second to none, as is her set shot routine given her two goals on the board, taking top honours five times her six appearances. Surprising but extremely capable ruck-option Emma Johnson has excelled in her first year as an Animal, having scored one goal and been the best twice in her four games, and Mel Barlow’s contested work and her ability to never give up has made her a very tough match up. In her six games, she’s kicked one goal and taken earned top honours four times.
Bridget Crowe, Aisha Fairweather and Eilish Wallace all joined the club together and haven’t looked back. Crowe has played five games to take top honours four times with her abilities in the defensive half of the ground making her an incredible rebound option, while Wallace at fullback has been an immovable force, making the best players list three times from five games. Fairweather through the middle of ground has elevated the Emmaus St Leo’s midfield to new heights, and has deservedly earned best-on-ground rewards from two of her four appearances.
For those familiar with Animals women’s team, it’s not at all shocking that Brooke Bishop is up there as one of their best for the year so far. Two goals from her five games has surprised no one given her move to the forward line after spending her first two years at the club in the defensive half of the ground. 2021 captain Dee Burden has led from the front all year, unwilling to be beaten in defence to make the best players list three times in her six games, while Sam Hogarth has also played every game so far to be named part of the best once. Emily Kerr’s dedication to the team cannot be understated, earning a top honours mention once from her four games.
An honourable mention goes to Sarah Morley, who ran out for the Animals once in 2021, but also managed to get her hands on a premiership medal playing for the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League, snagging three of her own goals in the process.
2021 has been a tough one for the Animals, to say the least. Four out of their first five games were losses by margins that were all but arguably insurmountable at the half time siren and would have been hard to come back from even by top level teams. But the close loss to South Melbourne Districts by only 13 points was a game they probably should have won, though it showed even the smallest glimmer of what they were capable of in the future.
The VAFA Women’s Division 4 had been quietly existing while Emmaus St Leo’s were toiling away in Division 3, until they were regraded after the conclusion of round 5. It was unknown waters, with oppositions, dates and ovals all a relative mystery to those in the blue and blue. With a gift in the form of a bye for their first weekend in their new home, the Animals had an extra week to prepare for their introduction to a new division and prepare they did.
Enter Parkside. Comparably the Emmaus St Leo’s of Division 4 (doing their best, still hanging out in the bottom spots of the ladder), the Red Devils were in for rude shock as the Animals descended onto McDonell Oval with a point to prove. Goalless and winless for the season, the goal(s) was clear. Play Animals footy and have some fun. And for the 80 minutes of game time, that was exactly what happened. Despite being down at every break, for the first time in far too long, the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team took home the four points, 5.5.35 to 6.6.42, and a rousing rendition of Grand Old Flag could be heard for miles.
There is a collective understanding of the Animals’ potential seven rounds into the season, and the feeling inside the camp is incredibly positive with morale high. The year mightn’t have started off the way they wanted, but the ship is slowly righting itself and it’s going to be incredibly exciting to see what Emmaus St Leo’s does next. With VAFA footy looking to return soon, their next opponent will be De La Salle, who will be making the trek over to Bennettswood Reserve. Coming off their first win of the season, the Animals are in the best position to get their second.