Whilst the main event happens inside the Bennettswood Pavilion, all four sides will be outside, at home for the first Quad Header of 2024.

THIRDS: VS ORMOND FC - BENNETTSWOOD RESERVE 9.20AM

The big news is the loss of Caden MacDonald from the side, with Jacob Mitchell coming back in to the side from his stint in the Reserves.

Ethan Baker is the big inclusion this week. He joins the Animals with an illustrious local footballing career, including a stint with Geelong’s VFL team. He slots in to the a dominant midfield with Checkers looking to continue his dominance of the ruck and Jarra Davis making sure that the Davis name is still on the field come Ladies Luncheon Day, even if he is not related.

Mason Laursen, Cooper Walter, and Max Warburton also return to the side after recent stints in the Reserves, and will be looking to push back up.

RESERVES: VS HAWTHORN - BENNETTSWOOD RESERVE 11.40AM

A slew of key returns for Ladies Luncheon Day with Harrison Jones, Jack Hernan, Stavros Andronicos, Kieran Jenkins and Sam Barrah all coming in to a Reserves side looking to arrest a two game slide.

Coming off kicking the Animals only two goals in the game last week in his 150th, Anthony Smith will be joined Jenkins up front and will look to see one the divisions more potent forward lines get ticking over again.

Jones and Hernan will flank either side of Jarrod Sandells across halfback, and look to provide run with fellow inclusions Andronicos and Barrah against a Hawthorn side more accustom to the stunted confines of Rathmines Reserve.

SENIORS: VS HAWTHORN - BENNETTSWOOD RESERVE 2PM

These two sides played an absolute barn burner on this day in 2023, and the Animals will be looking to exact revenge when they welcome the Hawks again to Bennettswood.

A raft of key inclusions for the Seniors include key forward Tom Hernan, 2023 Team of the Year wingman Matt Hill, and enigmatic tall Jonathan Greensides.

In the case of Hernan, it’s his first game of the 2024 season after a fantastic debut campaign last year, and will add so much needed overhead prowess to an Animals forward line that has historically played shorter.

Tom Wales also returns to the side after missing last week, and slots in to a backline looking to only be the second side to keep Hawthorn under 100 points this year.

WOMEN: VS PARKSIDE - BENNETTSWOOD RESERVE 4.45PM

It’s an historic moment for the Women as they run out as the sun sets at home for the first time ever, against a side they last met two years ago.

A lot has changed since that 2022 season, but not too much has changed this week.

Leesa Guastella will officially play her first game for the Animals, and become only the second Women’s player to debut on Ladies Luncheon Day (Grace De Cesare 2019 vs Oakleigh).

She takes up a spot across halfback, which allows former B&F winner Nyari Gryzb to move forward to re-create her goal kicking heroics in last year’s pink game. J Clancy returns to the forward line to add a much needed spark, replacing Emma Ferrall, whilst Nadine Pietsch is the third new forward, taking Rose Kennedy’s spot across half forward.

Heidi Lawrence impressed on debut off the bench last week, and will take Chelsea Brown’s spot on a wing.

The ever-popular former Vice-President Greg Rollo-Walker also features as fill-in Team Manager for the night as well.