An undermanned Wattle Park produced a near-herculean effort to steal what would have been a deserved win, but in the end were unable to overcome the weight of numbers as they went down by a solitary point to De La Salle in Malvern East.

An already stretched Animals side, with no less than 10 players unavailable for selection, were the better of the two sides to begin the game in a goalless first term, as both sides spent the quarter fighting a tough contested battle between the arcs.

The Animals would then strike first with Maddy Mazer kicking her first goal for the Animals in her new role after some spectacular lead up play.  

It would be the only goal of the half for either side, as the Animals continued to assert themselves at the contest and restrict the run of a DLS side looking to utilise their full bench. Ashton Billing once again leading from the contest as her ruck craft surpassed any attempt to quell its effect, with Jas Ardern backing her efforts up around the contest and working hard both ways.

The Third Quarter saw a turn in the game however, as two quick DLS goals saw them skip out to their first lead of the morning, as the Guns began to find the run they sought after with the personnel advantage.

The game then took a turn as the ever-fearless Jemima Clancy was involved in a heavy contest coming out of the back 50. It saw Clancy requiring assistance from the field and a large stop to play, and in turn quelling the momentum DLS had acquired.

Clancy would thankfully make her way out of the medical room to be able to watch the final term with the rest of the Animals bench, but it did leave the side down to 17 for the final term.

DLS would pounce on an ever-increasing numerical advantage and quickly kick a third to start the term, and proceeded to put the cue in the rack.

What would unfold was a near-comeback for the ages, as dynamic small forward Paige Hill would kick her team leading fifth goal, extending her goal kicking streak. Ashton Billing then did it all herself as she grabbed the ball out of the ruck and slammed another home to bring the Animals within a kick with mere minutes remaining. 

With less than a minute left Caity Power would see a quick kick sail agonisingly wide, and DLS then move the ball quickly to centre wing with an outnumber. Emma Johnson would do her best to dampen the initial 5 on 1 advantage the home side had, and then Lilly Hutchinson stood tall when required to turn the ball back to the Animals and spring debutant Alayna McKirdy through the middle. 

MacKirdy was able to find an astonishingly wide Paige Hill at the top of the square but was unable to get a kick on goal, DLS would clear and cling on for the win.

DLS 3.3.21

WP 3.2.20

Goals: Mazar, Hill, Billing

Best: Billing, Power, Ardern, Mazar, Curtis, Haylock