Joined VAFA: 1992
Coaches: Glen Hopkins (M), Mel Dell’Olio (W)
Nickname: Animals
Ground: Bennettswood Sports Ground, Holland Avenue, Burwood.
Women’s/Under 19/Thirds: As above.
Colours: Navy and blue vert. stripes/ – white number; shorts -navy; socks – navy.
Secretary: Joe Anker E: [email protected] M: 0447 966 880
President: Cameron Gardener E: [email protected] M: 0429 598 887
Emmaus St Leo’s earned premiership success in their first season in the VAFA (1992), then playing under the name of St Leo’s Wattle Park. Another premiership followed in 1995 in the E (East) Section. Since these first two flags the club has changed names a couple of times. From St Leo’s Wattle Park, the club changed to St Leo’s Emmaus Wattle Park. They won their third senior flag under this name in 2002 at Division 1. This team then went agonisingly close to earning promotion to B Section, losing the 2003 preliminary final. The following year they fell in a heap as they finished 10th and were relegated back to Division 1. Since then the club again changed names, this time to Emmaus St Leo’s Old Collegians. The Animals as they are known, were runners up in Division 2 in 2008 and Division 3 in 2015 (after going undefeated to that point) and they currently play in Division 2. Paul Baranello also claimed his third competition best & fairest award in 2015 and etched his name as the greatest Animal of them all. They entered a team in the VAFA Women’s competition in 2018, finishing seventh in Division 3.
Premierships
Seniors | Reserves | U19s |
3 | 2 | 2 |
Division 1: 2002 | ||
E (East) / Division 2: 1995 | ||
F Section / Division 3: 1992 | Division 3: 2019 |
Competition Best and Fairest Winners – Senior
Premier C / C Section – LS Zachariah Medal – 1
Division 2 / E Section – J Fullerton Medal – 1
Division 3 / F Section – P Hutchinson Medal – 2
Year | Name | Section | Votes |
2015 | Paul Baranello | Division 3 | 31 |
2014 | Paul Baranello | Division 3 | 32 |
2008 | Paul Baranello | Division 2 | |
1999 | Stephen R Buckle | C Section | 24 |
Club News
MoreOfficial VAFA Podcast: Ep.10 with Shane Chapman (Monash Blues) & Checkers (Wattle Park)
Join Jason Bennett, Joey Pignataro & Paddy Grindlay as they deep dive into Round 10 of VAFA action. The boys catch up with: Monash Blues champion SHANE CHAPMAN, who last
A Taste of Marmalade hits the VAFA
The VAFA off-season has produced another influx of big recruits, but none come any bigger than the Marmalade boys, who’ll run out for the Wattle Park Animals Thirds in 2024.
100,000 reasons to get excited for the Animals
A win bigger than just the four points has happened at Emmaus St Leos Football Club this week, with a $100,000 upgrade of lighting at Bennettswood Reserve. The oval is
Emmaus St Leo’s set to go pink to raise funds for the NBCF
Emmaus St Leo’s will continue their outstanding support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) on Saturday May 11th as they host their fourth consecutive Ladies Luncheon in their newly
Emmaus St Leo’s awarded Australia Day Trophy for Sport and Recreation
It was an Australia Day long weekend to celebrate for Emmaus St Leo’s as they were awarded the City of Whitehorse Council Australia Day Trophy for Sport and Recreation. The
Animals’ home set to undergo $3.8m redevelopment
Emmaus St Leo’s OCFC marked a major milestone in the Club’s development over the weekend with the turning of the first sod in the $3.8 million redevelopment of its home
VAFA Top 40 Best Bits: 20-11
2016 played host to numerous highlights throughout the VAFA and we’ve endeavoured to find the 40 most memorable. From Al Armstrong’s game-tying goal to Michael Di Natale’s dream season, there