THIRDS:

Under the lights at Bennettswood Reserve for the first time, the Thirds made it a day to remember with a comprehensive 60-point win on the weekend against Mazenod. The game itself started close, with both teams going into the first break 1.3.9, before some missed opportunities in the second quarter kept the away side in it. Three goals to one in the third term kept a defendable buffer before five in the fourth really sealed the deal.

On a big day for Wattle Park, the footy gods could not have scripted a finer finish with the Thirds already well ahead deep into the fourth quarter. After missing an easy shot on goal the previous minute where he’d had time to settle, club legend Paul Baranello received a free kick for holding inside 50, which left him on a tough angle. Calls of ‘he doesn’t miss’ rang around the pavilion and those who were still left waited with bated breath as he started his run up from against the fence. In a shock to absolutely no one, Baranello sent the ball straight through the big sticks with the cleanest shot for goal anyone has seen in awhile, much to his delight as he turned to the crowd with his arms outstretched before being mobbed by his teammates.

In his second game of the day, Dan Quattro was the Thirds’ best player, with four goals to his name and was joined in his goalkicking ways by Sean Howard, who kicked a goal in a second-half performance that earned him a spot in the top six. Club president Cam Gardner, Patrick Leevers, Sam Cordy and Jordy Rodd rounded out the list, while Ethan Boyd, Tyson Henry, Nick Rodway and Jacob Mitchell all managed to snag a goal, and Jamie Whipps two. 

Five rounds into the season, the Thirds sit fourth on the ladder with three wins and two losses, their percentage at 140.26%. 

WP 12.11.83

MAZ 3.5.23

RESERVES:

A nine-goal haul to full forward Matthew Price has seen the Reserves continue their run of huge wins, with this weekend’s victim in Hawthorn subjected to an 80-point loss. The first quarter started pretty tamely for both sides who appeared to be matched evenly, until five goals in the second term set the tone for the rest of the game and left Hawthorn without answers.

The Animals’ speed with the ball and ability to stick to structures provided very few chances for the away side to get their footing, as the boys in the blue and blue piled on six goals from ten scoring shots in the third term. With the Reserves’ foot eased just slightly off the accelerator in the final quarter, despite still kicking five majors, Hawthorn managed to scramble 2.5 to finish the game. 

Unsurprisingly, Price was named best-on-ground for his efforts, joined by strong backline performers Lawrence Virgo and Sam Argus with Sean Bourke, Henry Tickner and Lachie Hicks rounding out the best player’s list. Also on the board with multiple goals were Anthony Smith and Dan Quattro who kicked two each, while James Nelson, Ray Kuhnell, Connor Leevers and Riley Thompson contributed with one each. 

At this stage of the year, the Reserves are sitting pretty in blue and blue at the top of the ladder with four wins and one loss, their wins granting them a rather hefty percentage of 228.77%. 

WP 17.13.115 

HAW 4.11.35

SENIORS:

A prime opportunity for Wattle Park AFC to go four from four for the first time ever has gone begging, with a 13-point loss to the Seniors against Hawthorn on Saturday. It was an arm-wrestle for much of the day as both teams had their goalkicking boots on early with nine goals kicked between them going into the first break. Eight behinds to the Animals in the second term skewed the scoreline and probably wasn’t an accurate representation of the game, before five goals in third quarter righted the ship. 

But it wasn’t to be for the Seniors as Hawthorn pounced on their opportunities in the final term to score five goals to nothing and grab victory from the jaws of defeat. 

Captain Harry Davis was named best-on-ground for his work all over the field, including kicking one major, while Nathan Bird’s three-goal performance warranted a mention in the best player’s list. Rounding out the goalkickers were James Moran, Matt Hill and Jonathan Greensides all managing two each, and Ethan Phillips the one. The usual suspects filled out the top performers, with Kieran Mair, Bailey Hunt, Joden Crothers and Baxter Newbegin all making an appearance.

With two wins, three losses and a percentage of 105.13%, the Seniors sit just outside the top four in fifth, five rounds into the season. 

WP 11.17.83

HAW 14.12.96