It’s a handful of milestones for the Animals this week across the three home sides as the Animals host their second Triple Header of the 2024 season, with one player entering rarefied air. Meanwhile, the Thirds make a familiar trip east in a new competition.
women: vs uhs-vu - bennettswood reserve 9.20am
After a strong showing in Bundoora that ultimately fell short of the result, the Women welcome back Rose Kennedy to the lineup after her impressive debut a fortnight back against Preston.
The game will see only the fourth ever female Animals player reach the 50 game milestone when Sammy Hogarth runs out at Fullback. Hogarth played in the Women’s first ever game against Westbourne Grammarians and is one of only three women to feature in every season of the side so far.
Another of that group returns to the forward line in Sheridan Harris after missing last week’s loss up north, replacing the mecurial J Clancy.
Three more debutants for the Women this week, with Charlotte Norton and Leesa Guastella starting in the backline, whilst Heidi Lawrence will make her inaugural appearance off the bench.
thirds: vs mazenod oc - central reserve 9.20am
A number of changes for the Thirds including their division, as they now move in to an amalgamated Division 3 South.
The back 6 stays relatively unchanged, but does see Junior Singh make his return to what has been one of the tighter backlines in the comp so far.
Up forward is where the changes are aplenty, with Riley Srey making his starting debut for the Animals after starting off the bench the last three weeks. He’s joined by Layton Sketcher, Lukas Skaife, and Jordan Walter who are all in this week, with Jacob Mitchell and Max Warburton getting promoted to the Reserves.
This game will also see a club debut for Cam Muratore off the bench.
reserves: vs whitefriars - bennettswood reserve 11.40am
Jarrod Sandells, Max Warburton, and Jacob Mitchell have all had their superb start to the year in the Thirds rewarded with promotions to the Reserves, in a side that looks to bounce back from a rough day in the inner north.
Harrison Jones and Cam Price also return to the side in the backline which will look to be a lot tighter than last weekend.
Up forward, Anthony Smith will celebrate his 150th game for the club, a career that spans over 14 years and has seen him take out the Reserves goal kicking title as well.
Jacob Glare made his return in the Reserves last week, and this week it’s Mitch Lamb’s turn to make his 2024 debut alongside excitement machine Tom Mariadason.
seniors: vs whitefriars - bennettswood reserve 2pm
Three players will celebrate the half century this weekend when midfield duo Hugh Schaeche and Ethan Phillips join Tom Clarke on the field in the late game at Bennettswood.
All three will be crucial for the Seniors to write the wrongs of last weekend and look to take advantage of a sputtering start the Friars have made to 2024.
Sean Howard makes his senior return in 2024, his first appearance since last years Elimination Final against Canterbury, coincidentally at Whitefriars home ground in Donvale. Joden Crothers also drops back in to the backline after his week in the Reserves.
It’s also a return for the running machine Matt Hill up forward, where he’ll look to make up for lost time after missing the last two weeks for the Animals.
James Marshall will also make his return this week via the bench.
