RESERVES:

The battle between one and two on the ladder was everything everyone expected it to be, if but a little low-scoring, as Wattle Park went down by three points at Kevin Bartlett Reserve to a more accurate-in-front-of-goal Richmond Central. The loss all but seals second spot for the Animals, but there is still a chance to finish top depending on next weekend’s results. 

With just two majors kicked between both sides in the first quarter, the Reserves took just a two-point buffer into quarter-time, before the home side laced up their goalkicking boots in the second to kick five straight. An apparent running theme for the season, missed opportunities in front of goal for the Animals kept the deficit to eight points at the main break. 

A fast-flowing second half began as both sides impacted the scoreboard. The Reserves’ run and carry game utilised much of the oval and fed their forwards for much of the third quarter. From seven scoring shots, the Animals kicked three goals but so did the opposition to just keep their noses in front. A goal to five behinds in the last quarter ultimately wasn’t enough to get the Reserves over the line. 

Harrison Jones takes best-on-ground honours, with Lachie Hicks, Isaac Waite, Adam Jopling, Lawrence Virgo and Connor Xipolitos rounding out the best players list. A three-goal haul for Anthony Smith and two majors from Matthew Price were the only two multiple-goalscorers, while James Nelson, Flynn McMahon-Normand and Ray Kuhnell also got on the board. 

With one game left of the home and away season, the Reserves sit second on the ladder with 13 wins, 4 losses and a percentage of 182.00%. 

WP 8.8.56

RIC 9.5.59

SENIORS:

Not even twelve behinds could stop the Seniors from registering their eleventh win of the season, beating Richmond Central by 27 points at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on the weekend. 

Two goals to 50-gamer Zac Kearns in the first quarter kickstarted Wattle Park, who took a two-point buffer into the first quarter. Limited scoring shots to both sides in the second term only extended the gap by an extra point, but a goal from backman Sam Argus ignited the Animals, both on the field and off it. 

A singular major from Reece Luehman was the only one scored for the Seniors in the third quarter as inaccuracy in front of goal continued to keep the home side in it, despite their ascendancy everywhere else on the ground. As has become custom for the Animals, they eventually overran their opposition in the fourth term, limiting them to just one behind to their four goals, two from stalwart backman Baxter Newbegin. Jonathan Greensides got on the end of quick ball movement to sink an impressive goal, right in front of the delighted Animals contingent on the sidelines, while a Matt Hill special saw him get on the scoreboard too. 

A move to the forward line early in the game saw Newbegin top the goalkickers list with three majors in a best-on-ground performance. Captain Harry Davis was back at his best through the middle joined by the ever-consistent Hugh Schaeche, while Tom Hernan, Bailey Hunt and Joden Crothers round out the best players list for playing their roles. 

The Seniors have their hands well and truly on fourth spot on the ladder, with eleven wins, six losses and a percentage of 124.89%, and will finish there at the end of the season. 

WP 9.12.66

RIC 6.3.39