RESERVES:
A goalless first quarter to both teams has ended in a 9-point loss to the Reserves, who went down to Richmond Central in their qualifying final at Whitefriars College on the weekend.
The Animals started well in the first term despite majors being hard to come by, with more inside 50s and more of the ball spent in their possession, but as has been the Wattle Park way for much of the year, an inability to convert that into goals put them on the back foot early. Two goals from six scoring opportunities in the second term slowly got the Reserves into gear, but they still went into the main break 11 points down.
Still rather evenly matched, both teams went goal for goal in the third term as the opposition kept the Animals at arm’s length, who were unable to get any ascendency, the 11-point deficit remaining at the final break. With only two goals kicked in the final term, the Reserves pegged the margin back to nine points due to inaccuracy and were unable to get the win.
Mitch Lamb, Henry Tickner, Isaac Waite, Sam Barrah and Jack Hernan all left nothing out on the park, but it was captain Anthony Smith whose attempt at dragging his side over the line earned him top honours on the best players list. On the goalkickers list was Waite with two, while James Nelson, Jem Sibley, Sam Barrah and the non-captain Anthony Smith got on the board with one each.
Despite the loss, the Reserves are still in the finals race and will head to Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday to take on Elsternwick in a do-or-die preliminary final. First bounce is at 9:20am so get down early to cheer your favourite Animal on!
WP 6.7.43
RC 8.4.52
SENIORS:
The Seniors have suffered an unfortunate end to their 2023 season at the hands of Canterbury, comfortably beaten at Whitefriars College in their elimination final by 79 points.
The Animals’ goalkicking woes continued as they have all year, kicking just one goal from seven scoring shots in the first quarter off the boot of Zac Kearns early. Missing opportunities in front of goal was not a problem for Canterbury, who took a two-goal lead into quarter-time off the back of four straight.
It arguably went from bad to worse for the Seniors, who were seemingly unable to keep up with their opposition’s speed through the middle and their ability to score consistently when rebounding from their defensive half. A goal to Matt Hill stemmed the bleeding slightly, but eight to Canterbury, who were taking advantage of every inside 50, left the Animals without answers, down by 57 at the main break.
A slow third quarter by both teams’ standards saw Tom Hernan kick the only Animals goal as defensively, the Seniors stifled Canterbury to just four scoring opportunities.
Ever the fourth-quarter specialists, the Seniors found another half gear in the final term, with Kearns adding another one to his tally and Ben Collins getting on the board, but were unable to stop the Canterbury freight train as they ran away with it.
Much like his Reserves counterpart, captain Harry Davis led by example in a best-on-ground performance, with Guy Donovan, Tom Wales, Collins, Jess Goldsmid and Tom Clarke rounding out the best players list.
WP 5.13.43
CAN 19.8.122