It was a pass mark for Wattle Park in the opening round of the season, with the Thirds and the Seniors getting the win over Elsternwick and the Reserves and Women just falling short. 

But round two is upon us and it marks the first triple header of the year as the Women, Reserves and Seniors all travel to Ross Gregory Oval to take on Power House at their normal times of 9:20am/11:40am/2pm, while the Thirds stay home to welcome Therry Penola at 9:20am also. 

Once again, there are first-gamers in all four teams, whether for the year or for the club, and there’s no doubt they all add an extra string to their sides’ respective bows. 

THIRDS:

Fresh off a good win in round one, such is the nature of the Thirds side that there are many new names and faces. Will Honey will make his debut for the club, and the return of Nick Gunn into fullback will no doubt provide some more defensive pressure.

RESERVES:

It’s a rather new-look Reserves side compared to last week, with a raft of changes including both new faces and old taking the field this weekend. In good form and elevated from the Thirds, Noah Heydon plays his first Reserves game ever at fullback, while Scott McCarney will start in the midfield and James Nelson in the forward pocket. Starting on the wing is Connor Leevers, who plays his first Reserves game of the year, as does Henry Tickner in the middle. Returning players also elevated on form from the Thirds but starting on the bench are Matthew Lewis, Lachie Hicks and Tom Elliott, joined by first-gamer Jem Sibly. 

WOMEN:

A loss in round one doesn’t detract too much from the amount of work the Women’s team have put in over preseason, and they will be boosted by the return of Nyari Grzyb who will start her first game of the year as rover. The debuts of Ashton Billing, Paige Hill and Emma Ferrall will no doubt help the side consolidate their inside 50s and spend more time with the ball in possession. 

Inaugural women’s player Shannon Harris will also play her 50th game for the club, becoming just the third person to reach the milestone for the squad. 

SENIORS:

A hard-fought win in the wet was exactly the way the Seniors wanted to start the season, and the team only gets stronger with the inclusion of Sean Bourke into the ruck, backman Lawrence Virgo and Sam Barrah into the midfield for their first senior games of the year. Off good form in the Reserves, Harrison Jones will make his Seniors debut.