Women look to start new era on right note

The stage is set for a perfect day for footy to return to Bennettswood Reserve this coming Saturday as Emmaus St Leo’s first triple header of the 2021 season kicks off, with the women welcoming the Bulleen-Templestowe Bullants and the men Westbourne Grammarians. The Animals Thirds will debut away at Melbourne High School against the Melbourne High School Old Boys. April 10 is not going to be a day to miss, as the men’s reserves 2019 premiership flag gets unfurled at the closing of the women’s game and before the reserves themselves take the field to begin their flag defence. 

Emmaus St Leo’s and Bulleen-Templestowe met each other twice in the 2019 season, with the ledger currently sitting at 1-1 after both teams got the upper hand when they had to travel away from their home ground. For the second year in a row, the Animals won four games for the season and sat 7th on the ladder at the end of it, while the Bullants will still be lamenting the lost opportunity to play finals as they finished one game below the top four in 5th. The last time these two teams took the field, albeit separately, was the 27th of July 2019, which was a very long time ago. 

The 2020 non-season gave the Animals the time to rue a missed opportunity, with early signs promising what would have been a great year for the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team. The silver lining is that it has set them up for a very competitive 2021. In what can be described as a pretty comprehensive player turnover, there will be more than a few new faces debuting on April 10 and pulling on the blue and blue for the first time. 

Team selection news has the Animals looking as strong as they have ever been, with a full team named plus six interchanges and two emergencies. 8 returning players will again don the blue and blue, while 16 get to pull the jumper on for the first time, with both emergencies also set to make the debuts in blue if needed.

Starting in the backline is Celine Khong, Eilish Wallace at fullback and seasoned backman Bec Herne, and joining them at halfback is Mel Barlow, newly-appointed captain Dee Burden and Lilly Hutchinson. Ebony Ratcliffe and Lilli Fogarty will start the game on either wing, while in the centre of the ground Maddy Mazar will take ruck duties with Vic Holt at her feet as ruck rover, and the Morley sisters in Sarah and Ash share the midfield. The forward line is bolstered by new players in Susan Sohar and Molly Tancred, while Sheridan Harris returns to half forward. At full-forward, Shannon Harris is named, with Dani Barton and Emily Kerr either side of her. Rounding off the team is the interchange with five out of six players fresh faces in Sam Neal, Amber Walker, Kiah Duncan, Ash Curtis, and Taylia Hough, as Sam Hogarth returns after a stellar 2019 season. Emmaus St Leo’s are also boosted by emergencies in new players Carla Varani and Emma Johnson. 

Notable outs include Bridget Monaghan, Brooke Bishop, and Kate Lucas, who were arguably apart of the Animals’ best 24 in 2019. 

Footy is finally back to Bennettswood Reserve and it’s been a long time coming, meaning Saturday’s game is set to be a cracker as the women’s team hopefully set up what will be a very successful return for the Emmaus St Leo’s Football Club. The numbers are high, as is the Animals spirit. How many new faces will score their first goal in the blue and blue? Whose gameday heroics are going to get everyone fired up? Get down to Bennettswood Reserve this Saturday for a 9:20am start and find out. 

A message from the Animals Committee

Dear Animals family old and new,

On behalf of the committee we are writing to keep the club community informed on the clubs plans going forward. We are going to take the next two months to conduct a full review of the clubs operations and prepare for the biggest and best year of the clubs 50 year history. Whilst we are extremely disappointed that the season was pulled at the last moment we need to use this time to set a plan for the next 3-5 years on and off the field.

Over the next 8 weeks the clubs executive have committed to the following:

• Conducting a club survey of both playing group and the wider club community which will cover areas including on-field, culture, facilities, media and engagement

• Review our current sponsorship agreements and establish a new sponsorship framework

• Review of our women's program and integration within the wider club

• Review our agreements with key partners in Deakin, DUSA, Emmaus College, Whitehorse and VAFA

• Review of all committee and coaching roles

• Conduct a risk review including a review of our policies and constitution

• Prepare a plan for our 50 year celebrations and appoint a sub-committee for the organisation and engagement

• Resubmit our proposal for new light towers at Bennettswood Reserve to Whitehorse and the State and Federal Governments

• A proposal to Whitehorse council for funding and support of a new womens participation and upskilling program, and leadership program within the club

• Appointment of new mental health officer/s to look after the clubs mental health fund and oversee the clubs welfare programs

• Create a budget for 2021 which includes repaying of any debts associated with the cancelled 2020 season

• Formalise our 3 year strategy which will include our mission, financial goals, and on-field ambitions as well as a list of major projects to be completed

We invite input and participation from all of our club members new and old. If you have an opinion on any of the above or would like to support with the review and implementation of any of the above please get in contact.

We will be in contact throughout and at the end of this process to announce our findings.

Look forward to hearing from you,

ESLOCFC Committee

2020 VAFA Season Cancelled

A VAFA Board meeting held tonight has confirmed the cancellation of the 2020 VAFA season for both Men and Women.

Naturally, we are saddened by this news, with our recent return to training seeing good numbers returning to the club and the prospect of a strong year both on and off the field.

The cancellation will not stop the club continuing to grow off the field, as we move in to our 50th season in 2021.

Emmaus St. Leo’s would like to thank everyone involved in the club. Players, staff, volunteers, partners, and sponsors have all been fantastic not only through the uncertain isolation period, but also in our brief return to the training track.

The Animals Family will stick strong through this time, the club is in a very secure position financially, and we will be ready to hit the ground running come Round 1 2021.

We will stay in contact with the Animals Family throughout this time and will hopefully have much more positive announcements soon.

Club Statement - VAFA 2020 Season

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 VAFA Season has been postponed until May 2

This means that as of today, Tuesday March 17, training sessions, practice games, and the beginning of the 2020 VAFA Home and Away season are suspended.

Emmaus St. Leo’s OCFC acknowledges this decision has not been made lightly, or an easy one, and will back any decision made by the VAFA during this unprecedented time.

Club President Glen Davis says “We are really disappointed this has had to occur, due to the success of our offseason recruiting and the growing optimism for the season ahead.”

Davis says that when we are allowed to come back, it will be all systems go.

“When we are allowed to resume footballing activities, we look forward to what we hope to be a successful conclusion to the season, no matter how that looks.”

ESLOCFC encourage everyone to stay safe, practice proper hygiene, and wish you the best during this time.

Stay tuned to our social channels, where we will have further announcements when ready and available.

Club Statement - COVID 19

Emmaus St. Leo’s Old Collegians Football Club would like to acknowledge the statement made by the VAFA in regards to the 2020 VAFA Season.

Emmaus St. Leo’s will continue to prepare for the 2020 Season to begin as normal, on April 4 with a triple header at Bennettswood Reserve.

We will also continue with our current planned schedule of practice matches, with the first this weekend at Kingswood College in Box Hill South where our Women’s side will play Swinburne Uni.

We request that if you have been feeling unwell in recent days, to avoid attending Emmaus St. Leo’s matches, practices, and events.

To read the VAFA’s statement, click here

Draw settled for Women's charge in 2020

Emmaus St. Leo’s Women’s side will have a third crack at the Division 3 after the VAFA released their 2020 Fixture.

The Animalettes will see familiar foes in Prahran Assumption, Oakleigh, Bulleen-Templestowe, and Swinburne University again, welcome new opponents in Parkdale Vultures and AJAX, and there will be the return of Powerhouse after a year away.

Newly appointed Women’s Assistant Coach Amy Ronchi was excited at the challenge staying in Division 3 gives the team

“Staying in Division 3 for the 3rd year is great for the team because it will give the girls some great competition and hopefully a shot at finals”

The Animalettes will open the year at home to Swinburne University, the only side they beat both home and away in 2019, and also a side they will meet this weekend in a practice match.

It begins a run of 4 home games in 5 to start the season, including opening the day’s play on Ladies Luncheon Day, something which Ronchi acknowledges is an important moment.

“The ladies luncheon is an important day for the club so having the chance to play before such an event is extra motivational for the team”

The only away game in that opening stretch is a trip to rivals Prahran Assumption, who Ronchi is excited to clash with again for a third year running.

“I’m excited to go up against Prahran again, they’re always a good challenge and I’m eager to see how the girls line up against them this year.”

The Animalettes finally got one over the Two Blues in their final home game of 2019, with a 3-2 win in tough conditions, and whilst the scoreline suggests a dour affair, it was anything but.

After the Ladies Luncheon game, a stretch of 4 away games in 5 then awaits Leo’s, including visits to new grounds in AJAX and Parkdale. Both sides were finalists in Division 4 in 2019, with AJAX defeating Parkdale in the Elimination Final, before going down in the Grand Final to a dominant Glen Eira side.

An even 2 and 2 split is left to end the year, with the final home game for the second year running featuring Prahran Assumption, whilst Round 14 sees Swinburne Uni bookend the Home and Away season.

All in all, only 4 “Triple Header” days await the Women in 2020, down from 5 in 2019, with Amy noting how important those days are for the club as a whole, both on and off the field.

“The triple header games are so important for the club as it gives all the players the chance to support each other and see the payoff for the hard work they’ve all put in at training. There’s nothing better than seeing Animals Hill full of the blue and the blue cheering you on.”

As mentioned earlier, the Animalettes will take on Swinburne Uni this weekend in a practice match, with their second trial against Premier C Reserve Grade winners Mazenod.

Historic moment as Womens coaching staff is bolstered

Emmaus St Leo’s 2020 season is starting off with a bang as they welcome OG women’s team stalwart and occasional goalsneak Amy Ronchi back to the club in a coaching role capacity.

This brings the coaching team to three for the affectionately named Animalettes who begin their third season in 2020, with Ronchi joining returning head coach Roy Fenton and previously announced assistant coach Geoff Koop as they hopefully lead their charges to finals for the first time.

Ronchi, who willingly admits that the offer was the last thing she expected, is just glad to be able to stay around the club despite not being able to play due to injury. It was in round 9 of 2019’s home and away season that a dislocated shoulder ended Ronchi’s season too early and resulted in a trip to the hospital. While the injury kept her from playing on-field, her involvement with the club off-field didn’t falter, coming to trainings and games and still making an impact. While her first reaction may have been a surprised laugh, it’s safe to say that when she brings that level of commitment to the assistant coaching role, it’s only going to make her that much better in it.

Important committee member and on-field warrior Michael Davis is incredibly proud of the way Emmaus St Leo’s supports their community with personal development, both on the field and off it.

“When Amy showed an interest in coaching, it was something that we fully got behind as the next step in her football journey.”

He also cites the fact that she already knows the group and can not only bring a player’s perspective to the coaching panel but a female one too is a major drawing card and will be extremely beneficial. The female perspective is an important point to make, given the appointment of Ronchi as assistant coach marks the first time in Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team’s short history that they have a female coach, which is something Ronchi herself hadn’t thought about.

To come back to Emmaus was a no-brainer for Ronchi, whose return is due to the people and the environment of club.

“I’m not quite ready to leave the women’s team yet and am excited to see how well they do this year.”

Her role as assistant coach is to liaise between Fenton, Koop and the team to make communication more effective, and it’s a role that really means a lot to her.

“I love being involved in both the club and the women’s team so being invited back to coach is really exciting and flattering.”

Emmaus St Leo’s 2020 campaigns begin again tonight, with preseason back after the Christmas break for a 6:30 start. Bennettswood Reserve is the place to be, with the sun shining and blue skies lighting up the oval in the best way. Training is likely to follow on from December, with a mix of fitness and ball skills while new faces and old will be welcomed with signature Animals pride, laughter and commitment.

The path to the premiership set for 2020

The road to the premiership in 2020 has been laid out for the Animals with the release of the Division 3 fixture.

The 2020 VAFA Division 3 draw sees a return to regular programming for a VAFA season as 10 teams once again make up the section.

Hawthorn (Relegated from Div 2), Albert Park, South Melbourne, and Elsternwick (Promoted from Div 4) top up what was a depleted section with the promotions of Aquinas and Manningham.

The Animals open up the season by meeting all 3 newly promoted sides, starting with Elsternwick on April 4.

Unofficially, the last match between the two sides was a 6 quarter practice game in March of 2019 that saw an extended Animals side easily account for the “Wickers” at Elsternwick Park, however 4 points will be on the line when they meet at Bennettswood Reserve in Round 1.

A visit from South Melbourne a fortnight later after the Easter Break will be followed by a trip to what will be more of a construction zone than a football precinct when the Animals head to the lake to take on Albert Park on ANZAC Day.

The Animals now annual Ladies Luncheon will see Richmond Central pay a visit, one of the sides who were swept aside in the Reserves magical run to the flag. With May 9 now locked in for the date, stay tuned for more details on the 2020 edition of this fantastic event.

The season will feature breaks on June 6 for the Queens Birthday Long Weekend and July 4 for the VAFA Representative Round.

A tough 7 game run home faces the Animals after the break with trips out west to face Westbourne and a final round visit to rivals Canterbury will test Leo’s before the finals series.

Make sure to stay tuned for Membership options for the 2020 season, Player announcements, as well as the eventual release of the Women’s fixture closer to the start of the season.

Assistant Coach Jarrod McMaster departs ahead of the 2020 Season

Emmaus St. Leo’s OCFC regret to inform that Jarrod McMaster has stepped down from his role as Senior Men’s Assistant Coach for the 2020 Season.

Affectionately known as “J-Rod”, he helped Senior Coach Ian Ledder guide the Seniors to a Preliminary Final in 2019, and was also prevalent in the Reserves run to a Grand Final victory.

Off the field, McMaster was a welcomed addition to the Animals Family, and a keen attender to social events including the Mental Health Night.

The search for McMaster’s replacement has begun.

The entire Animals Family wishes Jarrod and his family the best.

Reserves coaching role has new Luke ahead of flag defence

Christmas has come early for those at Emmaus St Leo’s Football Club, with the confirmation of a new man at helm of the men’s reserves team for the coming 2020 season. Outgoing reserves head coach Tom Clarke is one from one in terms of years coached and premierships won but is stepping down to continue his playing career, which leaves room for Luke Paramanathan to take the reins. Luckily for Paramanathan, he already knows that the blue and blue is a good look, after having been involved in the success of the reserves in 2019 when he came in as an assistant coach in the middle of the year.

The responsibility isn’t lost on Paramanathan, who is honoured to have even been considered for the coaching role, let alone actually getting it, stating ‘the club has shown a lot of faith in me, and I plan on repaying it.’ He’s excited by the opportunities and challenges he knows he’ll face especially as he aims to learn as a coach. ‘Once of the hardest things in football is sustaining a period of success. It’s one thing to be at the top and win a flag, but it’s another to try and be there over an extended period of time.’ The team he is now in charge of had a stunning finals series, claiming the premiership after ending the home and away season in 4th position on the ladder.

Paramanathan’s eyes may be firmly on the best prize of them all, but his goals for his time at Emmaus St Leo’s aren’t to just add more silverware to the cabinet. One of his focuses will be development, and not of just his own his personal coaching skills but he’ll also spend time with a lot of the reserves to hopefully see them break into the senior team on a consistent basis, believing it to be one of the ways the club can define itself. ‘It’s a way I can leave a mark at Emmaus St Leo’s and put the club in a successful position for years to come.’

Preseason has already kicked off for the Animals, with a month of hard, fitness-based sessions to see both new players and old into the Christmas break. The camaraderie that Emmaus St Leo’s prides themselves on has continued to show despite the physical and mental challenges thrown their way. With one more session left before everyone leaves Bennettswood Reserve for the last time in 2019, it’s easy to see why it’s been the place to be for so long and will continue to be as everyone supports and encourages each other. The appointment of Paramanathan is just further proof that once you get invested at Emmaus St Leo’s, you won’t want to leave. Preseason is back up again on the 29th of January to kickstart the 2020 campaigns all of teams, so hold yourself to at least one New Year’s resolution and be there, it’s set to be a good one.

Four more!

2019’s best first year player, “inner Animal” of the year, clubman of the year, and a third-year player returning from injury walk into a bar…if that bar is the Emmaus St Leo’s Football Club in 2020.

Four important pillars of Animalettes footy in Rhiannon Stute, Tara Ingham, and sisters Sheridan and Shannon Harris, are returning for Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team’s third year. Stute, who unfortunately spent the better part of 2019 watching from the sidelines through injury, is hoping to surpass the four games she played and instead provide a vital part in her team’s year, on field this time instead of off field. After finally being able to confirm that she was coming back, it’s no surprise that one of the reasons is the sense of family and support. ‘The freedom I feel on the field, and the camaraderie for not only the girls on the team but the club are the reasons I want to come back.’

And those sentiments are shared by Ingham, who was named best first year player at this year’s presentation night, and “inner Animal” of the year Shannon Harris. ‘Emmaus St Leo’s has such a great group of girls who I’m proud to call my teammates and my friends, so that left no doubt that I’ll be back playing and training with the blue and blue next year,’ Ingham says, with Harris stating that she’s incredibly proud of the culture that has been cultivated at Emmaus St Leo’s, between all three teams. ‘I want to play footy again because it’s a place of belonging.’

For clubman of the year Sheridan Harris, along with both her sister and Stute who also played in both Animalettes seasons, being a part of the first women’s team has instilled in her a huge sense of loyalty, which only became so much bigger when she joined the committee and started contributing as a member of the communications team in 2019. ‘Growing up, footy has always been a huge part of my life, so being able to play for the last two years has been the best. There was no doubt in my mind that I’d be coming back to Emmaus St Leo’s for 2020.’

The coming season brings with it obvious intentions, with a flag believably on the horizon for all four women returning, but they know that it’s not the be-all and end-all. Stute hopes to get through the season unscathed and without injury, while the “inner Animal” herself hopes to add some more goals to her tally. But the underlying theme prevalent in the reasoning behind all four players returning is that they want to continue growing an environment that encourages women to play footy, whether they’ve played 100 games or 0, as well as building a strong foundation for the Emmaus St Leo’s women’s team for years to come.

For Emmaus St Leo’s in general, 2019 ended with the reserves men’s team taking home the silverware and it’s something that everybody who was there will remember forever, with the victory being a consistent favourite part of the year amongst most of the Animals faithful. Pre-season for all Animals officially begins on the 18th of November at home at Bennettswood Reserve, where quests for flags will undoubtedly start the only way those in the blue and blue know how.

Ledder and McMaster return to finish the job in 2020

Senior Coaches Ian Ledder and Jarrod McMaster have both agreed to return to Bennettswood in 2020 to chase the ultimate success.

Both Ledder and McMaster joined this year from the St Kevins OCFC program, and have breathed new life into the Animals Men’s squad, with the Senior side making the finals for the first time since 2015, where they fell ultimately short in the Preliminary Final against Manningham.

Ledder was excited about what was in store for 2020 after the strong end to the 2019 season.

“Coming off a successful 2019 season with two excellent finals appearances one of which we saw a victory, 2020 is shaping up to be an exciting year.”

“We have built a strong foundation across the board to launch a seriously competitive campaign.”

Outgoing Animals President Alex Maunder had nothing but praise for the pair after their first season.

“I’m very excited to announce that Ian Ledder and Jarrod McMaster will be returning to lead our Senior Men’s team in 2020. Ian and Jarrod worked tirelessly this year to bring new energy to the group, with a strong focus on game plan and making the most of the qualities of the playing group”

After a 2018 season which saw the Animals relegated on the final day of the season, both Ledder and McMaster ran an intense pre-season program which saw the Animals open with a 55 point win away to Parkside, and cap off a day which saw all three Animals sides win that day.

Their ability to keep the team going through a month long break in the middle of the season was crucial at the pointy end of the year. After losing 5 of 6 games going in to the bye, the ledger was reversed and they stormed home making the top 4 comfortably winning 5 of their last 6, including being one of 3 sides to win at Westbourne in 2019.

A commanding win in Week 1 of the finals over Canterbury was the crowning achievement of the year, as the Animals dominated the Cobras in every facet of the game to take a 5 goal win.

The committal of the Senior Coaching panel is the first of a long list of crucial cogs in the Animals Family announce their intentions to stay in the family in 2020.

“With the retirement of some experienced and exceptional players, the club will attack the up coming season with a group of young men with considerable passion and drive.” Said Ledder.

“I am positive this playing group and those that will join the club, will fill all the requirements to

ensure further success for the animals.”