It was all happening at Bennettswood Reserve for the Thirds on the weekend, against a Therry Penola team unable to field a side. After a team shake-up before the game, the Animals ultimately and unofficially took the game 140-15, but it was the halftime score of 71-0 that officially counts, as the second half of the game continued on with the home side sending some players to the dark side to even up the teams. 

Still, with ten goals on the board at the main break and from an array of players, not all was lost. Brendan Ellwood was up to his usual tricks again, kicking three majors, while Layton Sketcher got in on the act with two. Rounding out the goalkicking party was Darby Allen, Dylan Jacobs, Jacob Mitchell, Joe Anker and Patrick Leevers. 

Club VP Greg Rollo-Walker took best-on-ground honours, joined by key Thirds players in Nick Rodway and George Burgess. 

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A bag of five goals in a best-on-ground performance to full forward Matthew Price has helped the Reserves register their first win of the season against Power House on the weekend. It was a first quarter blitz for the Animals with four goals on the board early, but a barrage of inside 50s in the final term resulted in six majors to really hammer the final nail in the coffin. 

Both Anthony Smiths and Dan Quattro got on the board with two goals each, and the backline trio of Nic Glanville, Zac Durrant and James Rippon were strong in defence. Connor Xipolitos continued his good form in his first season, stepping up for ruck duties when needed. 

Scott McCarney’s first game in the Twos has seen him unsurprisingly rewarded with a mention in the best players list, given his willingness to put his body on the line for his team and despite cramps literally cramping his style late in the last quarter. 

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Not even multiples goals each to Jonathan Greensides, Matt Hill and Tom Hernan could get the Seniors over the line on the weekend as they went down by 40 points. Against a well-drilled Power House outfit, the Animals were seemingly on the back foot for the majority of the game, unable to match their opponents’ speed all over the ground. 

The Animals had no answers for Power House, whose ten-goal-to-four first half set them up with the lead they maintained for the rest of the game. Miskicks and broken tackles contributed to Wattle Park’s inability to keep the ball in possession, with Power House everywhere once the ball hit the deck. 

A late rally in the final term saw from five goals from the Animals as Power House slowly started to run out of legs, but they still managed to keep a large buffer despite their 4.6 scoreline. 

Animals vice-captain Nathan Bird was best-on-ground with his work in the contest and also managed to get on the board with a goal. Sean Bourke’s work in the ruck, with a helping hand from Greensides, got him on the best players list as he tirelessly competed with tough opposition for much of the game. 

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This weekend, the Thirds travel for the first time this season, making the trek to Brens Oval to face a UHS-VU side who suffered a 53-point loss in round two. 

Continuing their triple-header theme, the Women, Reserves and Seniors return to Bennettswood Reserve to welcome La Trobe University at 9:20am, 11:40am and 2pm respectively. All three away sides are coming off good wins in round two.