The Animals will fill all four of the VAFA’s Saturday timeslots in Round 14 as the run to finals continues.

The promise of quality late July winter weather sees the forecast also call for attacking football and one of the best opportunities the club will have to record four wins from four across a round.

THIRDS

A raft of club legends have answered the call to help the Thirds avenge a two goal loss from earlier in the season to the Demons.

Max Pringle, Josh Nyhof, Will Maloney, and Anthony Muling join old teammate Michael Davis in headlining a stacked Thirds side which also welcomes back classy winger Jeff Riordan, swingman Nick Rodway, and star midfielder Jordy Rodda.

RESERVES

A surprise move after last weeks dismantling of Elsternwick sees classy backman Nic Glanville move forward to continue his goal kicking form. Glanville has goaled in his last three games for the Animals and will be looking to double his tally at St James Park.

His move forward allows James Rippon and Greg Rollo-Walker to come into a settled backline which only conceded one solitary point after half time last week.

Cooper Walter and Jem Sibley are the new wing combo for this week, with 2022 Grand Finalist Ben Severin getting the call up to the side as well to ruck.

SENIORS

A well-earned Senior debut has been handed to midfielder Henry Tickner. The man affectionately known as “Horse” at Bennettswood has yet to reach the 30 game mark, but has worked hard initially with the Thirds, and more recently as a staple two’s midfielder, and will be on to watch at St James Park.

He’ll be receiving hit outs from fellow animal nicknamer Sean “Spider” Bourke who comes in for Reece Luehmann, after a near best on ground performance last week at Elsternwick.

Also earning promotions after last week’s 105 point win are Dan Hill and Zac Durrant, who both also featured in the best 6 from last weekend.

Hill, who kicked 6 on his return to the lineup, plays only his second senior game this year. Meanwhile Durrant returns to help with the Animals outside run on the uniquely shaped confines of Swinburne’s home oval.

The return of four key figures in the Women’s side will be a boost before what looms as a crucial clash for the side at Holmes/Tood Oval.

Chloe Hulme’s return allows a shift for the whole side, which see’s both Clover Hart and Poppy O’Shea move further up the ground.

O’Shea will be joined by Olivia Walker up front, who shifts from her midfield role to allow Clover Hart to fill that gap. Walker will join Sheridan Harris and club leading goalkicker Paige Hill, who kicked two goals the last time these two sides played.

Vice-Captain Lilliana Fogarty also returns this week, and will deputise for injured captain Ebony Ratcliffe for the Women’s side first ever visit to the bayside surrounds of Elsternwick.

Reliable defender Emma Turner, and utility Caity Power will also return for the clash.