After a long wait between games, Essendon VFLW has resumed in stunning fashion with a 60-point win in a practice match against Darebin Falcons under lights at the NEC Hangar on Thursday night.

The Bombers came out firing in their first game in over a year, defeating the Falcons 78-18 on the eve of the 2021 VFLW season.

Former Melbourne, Geelong and Fremantle AFLW player Mia-Rae Clifford starred with five goals, while Monique DeMatteo and Marianna Anthony kicked two each.

Head coach Brendan Major, who is heading into his third season at the helm, was impressed with the cohesion of the group and the way they implemented their strategies in their first hitout. 

“We managed to implement some of the things that we have been practising this pre-season,” Major said.  

“They have adopted the things we have been working on at training and the way we have been trying to move the ball. We are really happy with the overall team performance.”

Major attributed the Bombers’ quality of play to the hard work the players put in away from the club during a cancelled 2020 season, and the club’s ability to retain a core group from the 2019 season.

New captain and reigning best and fairest Georgia Nanscawen played the majority of the game in the midfield and lead from the front.

The former Hockeyroo and North Melbourne AFLW player gained the first clearance, setting up the forwards early to establish the tone for the rest of the game. 

Major said Nanscawen, along with fellow leadership group members Courtney Ugle (vice-captain), Kendra Heil, Clifford and Eloise Ashley-Cooper, provided great direction.

“Georgia is very much a lead-by-example type of person and played most of the game last night in the midfield. She was very instrumental early and set the tone for the rest of the group,” he said.

“Courtney got thrown around a little bit but performed well in multiple roles. Mia-Rae and Kendra also performed really well in their respective roles.

“In terms of their leadership around the group, it has always been exemplary which is why they were voted in.”  

Newcomer Jessie Davies, who played for Western Bulldogs in the AFLW, was another who impressed Major with her ability to cover the ground and provide direction to her teammates.

“(Jessie) covered about eight-and-a-half kilometres throughout the game and set us up very well. She gave really good direction and voice,” he said. 

“The stats sheet might not reflect an overly influential game but for the way we want to play and set up, she was fantastic. To have that kind of experience coming into our team this year is going to be beneficial for us.”

Davies is one of five players on the VFLW Bombers’ list with AFLW experience, alongside Clifford, Heil, Nanscawen and Cecilia McIntosh.

The experienced quintet will support a youthful squad in 2021, with a host of youngsters already making a big impression on Major.

“Eloise Ashley-Cooper, Alana Barba and Felicity Theodore performed well on Thursday night. They are exciting prospects for us, especially so early on in the year. They have all had good pre-seasons,” he said.  

“We have a really good crop of young players coming through and although they aren’t experienced, Libby Hosking, Marianna Anthony and Emma Mackay are all really good outside players with genuine speed and flare.”

Looking ahead to the 2021 VFLW season, Major acknowledged there were a lot of unknowns heading into the season due to list changes and limited opportunities for match practice, but said Thursday night’s practice match had instilled confidence and excitement within the coaching staff. 

“They (coaches) have taken ownership of the way we want to play, and I am very excited about where the group is at,” he said.

“I can see a lot of growth and development from the last two years.”

The Bombers were without Nicole Julian and Natalie McDonald (injured) on Thursday night and hope to welcome the pair back for round one. 

The VFLW draw is expected to be announced in the coming days with the season due to start next weekend.