If you made plans for Saturday and can’t make it to Bennettswood Reserve to watch the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team welcome Albert Park because you technically rightly assumed there would be no footy, you might be forgiven, but only because it’s VAFA’s representative bye and no teams were meant to be taking the field Association-wide. Alas, there is Animals footy, with the women’s team having a game to make up after their first foray into division 4 was turned into a bye. (Bye in this case actually means ‘round 6 game to be played at a later date’.) The men’s squad will return next week for their regularly scheduled programming.
Last week’s rematch against Parkside didn’t end like the first time they faced each other, much to the chagrin of all those in blue and blue. The effort was there, and the scoreboard ticked over relatively healthily for a side in its third year, as Bridget Crowe starred with two goals. Ultimately, though, they were beaten by 40 points.
This week, however, their opponent is Albert Park, and the game is on home turf after the Emmaus St Leo’s travelled to Bill Woodfull Oval two weeks ago to face the Falcons for the first time. The game itself wasn’t ideal, as the Animals went down by 76 points and failed to get a goal on the board. But this Saturday, it’s a brand-new opportunity, and with a few additions to the team since round 11, it’s set be a good clash.
Seven changes have been made from the last team who faced Albert Park, with some big names not running out onto the deck in round 12. Mel Barlow misses with a leg injury and is unfortunately out for the rest of the season, while midfielders Ash Morley and Eleanor Tunley aren’t named, the former an emergency to the squad of 24. Gun half-forward flanker Dani Barton has played her last Animals game for the year after announcing her impending move interstate.
For those playing along at home, if you missed crossing ‘return of a club legend’ off your metaphorical 2021 bingo card last week, fear not. Justifiably considered Animals royalty, Shellby Lonie returns to the side for the first time in 2021 just under two whole years (719 days to be exact) since her last game in the blue and blue. Lonie’s ability to break through packs and presence has been sorely missed all over the ground and she will not doubt not miss a beat once she takes the field, having been named to start on the bench. Arguably the Emmaus St Leo’s best player in 2021, Vic Holt will play her second game back, having missed the last Albert Park game with a finger injury, and joining her is fellow midfielder Aisha Fairweather. Captain Dee Burden returns as Animals number one role-player Ebony Ratcliffe comes back into the side after missing a few games due to being back home.
With just three games remaining of the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team’s 2021 season, this Albert Park game kickstarts the run home. The end of the year looms on the horizon and has the Animals keen on finishing well, with numbers at training high and morale even higher. Is the idea of literally being the only VAFA-wide game incentive for players to continue to rise to the occasion? Will Lonie kick a goal in her return-game? Get down to Bennettswood Reserve and find out! First bounce is at 9:20am, and rumour has it there’s likely to be some cheeky breakfast for those willing to brave the cold Melbourne weather and early Saturday morning start time to cheer their favourite Animals on.