Lifelong Bombers fan Alex Morcom made her dreams come true when she ran out for Essendon’s AFLW team last Sunday.

A key defender who’s been involved with the club’s VFLW team since its inception in 2018, she’s a popular figure around Tullamarine. This was never more evident than when it was announced she’d be joining the inaugural AFLW list as a replacement player.

Even after becoming a VFLW premiership player this season, Morcom had no guarantee of anything at Essendon. Her name wasn’t to be seen on the final list lodgement and while every injury hurts within the fabric of a club, new chances arise from them.

Georgia Nanscawen, Eloise Ashley-Cooper and Jorja Borg were all placed on the inactive list after suffering their respective season-ending injuries.

Morcom never thought it would lead to the moment she’d been waiting for all her life so quickly, though.

“I was very close to not being on a list and not playing AFLW footy,” the debutant told The Inner Sanctum.

“It was a pretty surreal moment finding out I was going to be able to get out there on the field. It’s what you work for, so to finally actually get there was pretty exciting.

“I grew up supporting Essendon, and found my way onto the VFLW team.

“That in itself was special, to be able to play for the club you supported, but to go that one step further and actually play for Essendon in their inaugural AFLW team is something else.”

Morcom was selected to line up in the backline, never an easy proposition for a player new to the AFLW, in their first game at the level.

Even harder was her potential opposition, in a Carlton forward line boasting noted goalkickers Darcy Vescio and Phoebe McWilliams.

Vescio is the competition’s all-time leading goalkicker, and has won the league’s goalkicking award twice.

So when Morcom was told she’d be matching up on them by coach Nat Wood, she had to do a double take.

“Nat told me I was going to match up on Vescio, and I did have a bit of a chuckle,” Morcom laughed.

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