A Friday night delight and a Saturday Triple Header before the mid-season ball is what sits between the Animals and a well-deserved mid year break this weekend.
thirds: vs oakleigh - w.a. scammell reserve - friday 7.30pm
A Friday Night showdown against the Krushers has been hyped up with the arrival of former AFL player Daisy Thomas to the side.
Daisy will join a stacked Animals midfield with Checkers, Jarra Davis, and Big Sketch creating a formidable quartet.
The inclusions see Jordy Rodda and George Burgess move to the backline to help rebound the ball from 50, with Cam Muratore coming in to the side.
Ben Kearns also moves out of the middle to provide some outside run, and will link up with a re-jigged forward line which was profligate the week before.
Ethan Baker, Michael Allen, Zach Kangelaris, and Jordan Cannizzaro all move forward in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure off Caden MacDonald, who’s return last week saw him kick all three goals the Animals obtained.
Will Taylor, Joe Caldow, and Riley Srey all drop back to the bench after starting last week.
women: vs de la salle - bennettswood reserve 9.20am
A seventeeth debut for the 2024 season headlines a changed side from last week’s loss to Old Carey as the women look to avenge the opening round loss at Dairy Bell.
Claudia Said will be the new Animal this week, slotting straight in to the forward line. She’s joined by both Rose Kennedy and Jas Ardern who both missed last week’s game.
Ardern returning as a forward has seen Vice-Captain Grace Ambrosini move in to the middle after her outstanding efforts in quelling Old Carey’s midfield last time out. She’s joined by Leesa Guastella also returning to the side to provide some push out of the middle.
Captain Ebony Ratcliffe moves out to a wing, where she started her time with the Animals, where she’ll look to link up with half back Elli Haylock, who also returns as well this week.
reserves: vs south melbourne - bennettswood reserve 11.40am
A 2022 Grand Final rematch at Bennettswood Reserve with the two sides on the opposite ends of two game streaks, but only a handful of changes for the Animals.
Jack Hernan and Harrison Jones return across half back for the Animals, as does Jarrod Sandells in a new look line.
Joe Anker returns up forward after a conditioning game with the Thirds last weekend upon his return from injury, with Cam Dapic also coming up from the Thirds for his Reserves debut.
Captain Anthony Smith plays his 50th game for the Animals this weekend
seniors: vs south melbourne - bennettswood reserve 2pm
Only three changes for the Senior side who suffered their first loss in a month last weekend.
Jess Goldsmid returns from concussion protocol and goes straight to Centre Half Forward, whilst Dan Hill also joins the forward line this weekend after a solid start for the Reserves this year.
Sam Barrah also comes back in via the interchange after a game with the Reserves last weekend after returning from overseas.
