For the second weekend in a row, Bennettswood Reserve will be home to only one Emmaus St Leo’s game as the women’s team runs out to face Parkside again, while the Thirds will make the trek to Lindsay Hassett Oval to take on AJAX, and Allard Park becomes the reserves and seniors’ ground for the day with North Brunswick their opponent. It was a 50-50 day for the Animals last weekend with two wins and two losses.
It’s going to be a tough ask for the Emmaus St Leo’s Thirds, with AJAX sitting second on the ladder having only lost two games for the year. But with a few names returning, and one that the Animals faithful will be very familiar with, anything is possible. With only a few games left of their season, the Animals won’t leave anything in the tank.
Normally on the other side of the white line, Will Latchford will be swapping the trainer shirt for the blue and blue guernsey as he takes the field for the Thirds in his first game for the football club, while Joe Caldow has been named captain for the day. Thomas Bent will also make his debut for the Animals after two good training sessions.
With the women’s team being the only one with the keys to Bennettswood Reserve on Saturday, it’s up to them to hold down the fort and bring home a win. The Animals come into this game off the back of an unfortunate loss when they travelled to Albert Park and were unable to get a major on the board. Parkside, however, remains as their challenge for this week.
Despite there being only four games left in the season, Emmaus St Leo’s is still debuting players as Steph Miller dons the blue and blue for her first game of football for the club, while captain Dee Burden returns. Vic Holt also comes back into the side after missing games due to a finger injury, as does Aisha Fairweather, with both players looking to boost an already formidable midfield.
The last time the women’s team faced Parkside, they took home the four points for the first time all season, in what was one of the Animals-moments of the year. While both teams look slightly different for this battle, it’s still set to be a fantastic game.
Last weekend saw both the Emmaus St Leo’s reserves and seniors get back on the winner’s lists with comprehensive wins over the Westbourne Grammarians, again, though this time they had to traipse across Melbourne to do it. This Saturday’s games at Allard Park are another good opportunity for the Animals to solidify their top 4 positions on the ladder, and also push for top 2.
It took him far too long to debut for the club to begin with, but it’s taken Greg Rollo-Walker barely any time at all to move up from the Thirds, as this weekend he will take the field with the reserves for the first time. Connor Leevers, who was best-on last time the team faced North Brunswick, will miss, but only due to keeping spot in the seniors, and the VP himself Cam Gardner comes back into the side to fill a gap left at full-forward. Seasoned forward Kieren Jenkins will also have a run in the middle.
Guy Donovan was Emmaus St Leo’s best against the Bulls last time they played each other, but he returns to a senior side who will be without two of their multiple goalscorers in Jack Hunt and Matt Hill. In keeping with this week’s theme, Dan Quattro will also make his debut in the ones, on the back of some very impressive form in the reserves.
Animals spirit will be unavoidable this Saturday as all four teams will be spread across Melbourne for the second week in a row. The women kickstart the day at 9:20am at Bennettswood Reserve, while the Thirds start at the unusual time of 1pm at Lindsay Hassett Oval. Before and after that though, are the reserves and seniors, with their first bounces at 11:40am and 2pm respectively, at Allard Park. If you can, get down to watch the Animals take the field!