This Sunday, Essendon will make history as it fields its first ever AFLW finals side.
Last weekend’s results locked the Bombers in seventh spot after finishing the home-and-away season with six wins and four losses, a marked improvement from their debut campaign in 2022.
A trip to GMHBA Stadium awaits for the Bombers, who take on the sixth-placed Cats in a tantalising elimination final matchup.
Last time we met:
Round six, 2023
ESSENDON 0.0 1.3 2.5 4.5 (29)
GEELONG 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.7 (19)
After a scoreless first term, the Bombers rebounded for a spirited fightback in the Country Round fixture.
Bolstered by a breakout performance from young star Amber Clarke (16 disposals, two goals), the Bombers fought their way back into the contest and managed to square the ledger by the final change.
In a familiar battle, sisters Maddy and Georgie Prespakis dominated through the midfield (33 and 26 disposals respectively), trying to drag their sides over the line.
A major from Daria Bannister restored the lead, before another goal from Clarke put the result beyond doubt, securing a huge result in the context of the Bombers’ season.
GOALS
Essendon: Clarke 2, Toogood, Bannister
Geelong: Scheer 2
BEST
Essendon: M. Prespakis, Toogood, Clarke, Nanscawen, Scott
Geelong: G. Prespakis, Am. McDonald, Moloney, Crockett-Grills
Key matchups:
Much like the previous fixture, the Prespakis’ influence in the centre will be critical.
Maddy has averaged 27 disposals per game in her second season with the Bombers, with her 33-touch effort from round six still a season-high, while Georgie enters the matchup fresh off a career-high 35 disposals against the Hawks.
The Bombers will need to stay adept defensively with the presence of Chloe Scheer in the Cats’ forward line, who finished equal third in the league’s goal kicking this season.
Bonnie Toogood poses a big threat at the other end, leading the competition in marks at 17 ahead of the next-best.
With the platform set for a huge encounter, the emerging Bombers will be jumping at the chance to make an impression in their first taste of finals football.
