Only one team from Wattle Park is heading into the VAFA representative bye with a mark in the win column as the Thirds successfully defeated Elsternwick at Holmes Todd Oval by 65 points. Back at home at Bennettswood Reserve, the Animals suffered, with the Women losing to La Trobe and both the Reserves and Seniors unable to weather strong Brunswick storms.
Miskicking in front of goal from Brunswick has saved the Reserves from a 100+-point loss, ultimately beaten by 89 at the final siren. Seven goals from13 scoring shots to zip in the first quarter set the scene pretty quickly as the Animals scrambled to get their heads into the game. A goal from Mitch Lamb against the onslaught was the only shining light in a dismal first half, the deficit already at 64 by the main break after, rather mercifully, some missed opportunities from the away side. The rest of the game continued in much the same way as the first two quarters, possession of the ball hard to come by for the Reserves as they were seemingly one step behind Brunswick, unable to get a handle on the momentum at any stage. Two goals in the third term and one in the final were rewards for enduring the heat in a tough game. Ruckman Sean Bourke did his absolute best, earning best-on-ground honours for his efforts, as did Joe Anker, James Moran, Jacob Glare, Lachie Hicks and Adam Jopling in an otherwise miserable day for the side. Moran, Lamb, Connor Xipolitos and Jarrod Sandells were the only goalkickers.
Another loss for the Seniors after a strong first half is their fifth in a row, all by 22 points and under, with Brunswick overrunning them in the last two quarters to take the win by 21 in the end. The Animals sit seventh on the ladder, with seven games left of the season to turn it around. More missed opportunities in front of goal cost the home side, going into the main break 7.6 and only 14 points up, which Brunswick clearly took as a challenge. Seven goals from 13 scoring shots to just 1.1 in the third term took all the momentum from the Animals, who were ultimately unable to get their footing back. Despite some chances in the last quarter, which saw them kick one goal from eight scoring shots and limit their opponents to two goals, the Seniors were defeated. Backman James Rippon took top honours in the best players list for his performance, with Seniors usuals in Jonathan Greensides, Tom Wales, Baxter Newbegin, Joden Crothers and Harry Davis rounding it out. Greensides managed four goals for the game, with three of them coming in a hurry during the second quarter, and Newbegin and Dan Hill both kicked two each.
Making it two from two for the year, the Thirds had their way with Elsternwick on the weekend, keeping the home side goalless for the last half of the game to get the four points. A rather even first quarter saw some missed shots in front of goal for the Animals keeping their buffer at just three points at quarter-time, before four majors to one in the second set them up with a 23-point gap going into the main break. Zero scoring shots from the home side allowed the Thirds to skip away with a larger lead in the premiership quarter, no doubt the defensive efforts of the backline could have been misconstrued as a brick wall. The possibility for a bigger win, with only 12 goals from 28 scoring shots, might be the only sour note in an otherwise rather complete performance for a side pushing for finals, this win their fourth in a row. In his first game for the Animals, James Brady tops the best players list, with a backline brigade of Michael Allen, Daniel Thorson and George Burgess joining him, Lochie Sketcher and Connor Rogers, in his return, rounding out the top six. Caden MacDonald continued his goalkicking ways with just four, while Jarra Davis managed two from the midfield.
A three-goal second quarter to La Trobe has contributed to a 26-point loss to the Women on Saturday, their two-game winning streak unfortunately coming to an end. It was an armwrestle for much of the game, with the away side taking advantage of their chances inside 50 to gain some dominance on the scoreboard. With five points separating the teams going into the second quarter, Rose Kennedy managed to get the only Animals goal of the game against the La Trobe momentum, as they piled on three goals to be in a good spot heading into the second half. The scoring for both sides slowed down in the third quarter as the ball bounced between the 50 metre arcs, stoppages abound. A 20-point deficit for the last quarter meant the Animals were on the back foot, one point kicked to the opposition’s 1.1, though their efforts did not cease until the final siren. First-year Animals Leesa Guastella, Kennedy and Tahlia Hill were deemed best-on, joined by captain Ebony Ratcliffe and the usual one-two punch of Elli Haylock and Ashton Billing.
With the final VAFA-wide bye of the year this weekend just gone, there were zero Animals on football fields, but the whole squad will be back in action this week to continue the last part of their home and away seasons. Bennettswood Reserve is once again solely a Thirds haven, who will have to reckon with a winless Masala at 11:40am. Pitcher Park is the destination for a Women’s side aiming to get back on the winner’s list against Parkside at 9:20am, while a trip to Whitefriars College awaits for the Reserves and Seniors at their usual times of 11:40am and 2pm, facing, you guessed it, Whitefriars.
FINAL SCORES - ROUND ELEVEN
Elsternwick v Thirds: 3.5.23 - 12.16.88
Reserves v Brunswick: 4.2.26 - 16.19.115
Women v La Trobe: 1.3.9 - 5.5.35
Seniors v Brunswick: 9.14.68 - 13.11.89