THIRDS:

On a tough day for the whole men’s squad, the Thirds put on a spirited performance in the final game of the club’s last 2023 quadruple-header, going down by 68 points to Canterbury under the Bennettswood Reserve lights on Saturday.

A low-scoring first quarter by both teams did nothing to set up the seven-goal blitz put on by Canterbury in the second, with the Animals at a loss on how to stop the speed of their ball movement and ability to get inside 50. Down by 53 points at the beginning of the third term, a Davisesque shot at goal from Sam Davis on the 50m line delivered the Thirds their first major of the day, before a Brendan Ellwood mark right in gave them their second and final in the last quarter. 

In his second game of the day, Thirds backbone Padric Leevers took best-on-ground honours, joined by swingman Darby Allen, vice-captain George Burgess in his return game from injury, trainer-turned-key-defender Daniel Casey, Dylan Jacob and Jacob Mitchell who rounded out the top 6. 

The Thirds sit in eighth position on the ladder at this stage of the season, with three wins, eight losses and a percentage of 58.12%. 

WP 2.7.17

CAN 13.7.85

RESERVES: 

An out-of-character, goalless first three quarters has seen an undermanned Reserves squad suffer just their second loss of the 2023 season, this time at the hands of Canterbury, as they were comfortably beaten by 78 points on the weekend. Missing key players was always going to leave the Animals with a tough mountain to climb. 

A constant Canterbury barrage of six, four, and five goals in the first three quarters respectively robbed the Animals of any momentum as they contributed just five behinds to three-quarter-time. Three final term goals to Jeff Riordan, Ray Kuhnell, and Joe Anker steadied the already long-gone ship after good team plays to get some confidence back in the later moments of the game. 

Club secretary Anker took best-on-ground honours, while Sean Bourke, Kuhnell, Jack Hernan, president Cam Gardner and Lachie Hicks rounded out the best players list.

Despite the loss, the Reserves still sit on top of the ladder, with their nine wins, two losses and a percentage of 165.15%. 

WP 3.6.24 

CAN 16.6.102

SENIORS: 

Another undermanned and misfiring Seniors team will be left to rue missed opportunities after dropping their fourth game of the season, suffering at the hands of Canterbury by 22 points at Bennettswood Reserve on Saturday. 

Canterbury burst out of the gates when the first siren sounded, making the most of their opportunities in front of goal as the Animals struggled in their forward half, before a textbook Zac Kearns goal kept them within 17 points at the first break. The second quarter continued like much of the first, with the Seniors unable to get their footing and Canterbury taking the advantages at every turn. A goal each from Reece Luehman and Matt Hill kept the Animals afloat just slightly but were still unable to gain any momentum. 

With the weather and the state of the ground arguably wreaking havoc on both sides’ ability to move the ball cleanly, it was Canterbury who still controlled possession for the game. Limited scoring in the third term saw the home side with a large enough deficit going into the last term.  Unable to get a major on the scoreboard and with just two behinds to show for their efforts, the Animals struggled to peg back the margin in the fourth quarter, despite Canterbury only kicking one goal as the final nail in the coffin.   

Unsurprisingly, backman Joden Crothers took top honours as best-on-ground, joined by Luehman, Kearns, Mitch Lamb, Ethan Phillips, and Scott McCarney. 

Eleven rounds in, the Seniors sit two games clear in fourth position, with seven wins, four losses and a percentage of 140.20%.