The VFLW Bombers have recorded their fifth win of the season and cemented their spot in the top four, defeating Williamstown by 30 points at the NEC Hangar on Saturday.

The Bombers, who entered the game placed third, overcame the Seagulls' strong physical presence to run away with a 6.9 (45) to 2.3 (15) win.

After controlling the game early, the Bombers struggled to convert in front of goals, keeping the Seagulls in the game. 

Libby Hosking and Ashley-Cooper were influential early and fought hard through the midfield to get the ball forward.

Zali Friswell applied strong forward pressure and was rewarded for her efforts with a goal just before the first-quarter siren.

Momentum turned after the quarter break with the Seagulls breaking through for their first goal of the day, but Kasey Lennox and Eloise Gardner were strong across the backline, cutting off the Seagulls’ run to rebound the ball into the forward line.

The Bombers answered the Seagulls’ fast start through a goal from Mia-Rae Clifford to take a 10-point lead into half-time.

Williamstown’s physicality continued to pressure the Bombers into the third quarter as the ball was locked in a contested battle across the ground.

Essendon finally broke through the Seagulls' pressure to score late in the third quarter with an on-the-run snap from Federica Frew.

The Bombers started the final term with intent, with Friswell scoring her second goal for the day before Alana Barba got on the board for her first.

But the Seagulls kept fighting to break the Bombers’ scoreboard pressure with their first major of the quarter. 

Frew hit the scoreboard for her second major just before the final siren, sealing a 30-point win.

Coach Brendan Major was impressed with his side’s ability to withstand Williamstown’s physicality, but could see room for improvement in his team’s communication.

“It was a real fight; we knew it was going to be and they came out with committed numbers to the contest. We had to keep with them and win every possession we got,” Major said.

“I think they coped with the physicality OK but it sort of affected our communication a little bit so we want to really make sure that when teams come at us physically that we keep the communication going.”

Major was pleased with the way his leaders stood up in the absence of captain Georgia Nanscawen, who was out with a calf injury.

“We’ve got some good leaders; ‘Ugez’ (Courtney Ugle) was a great leader for us last year and we’ve got ‘Coops’ (Eloise Ashley-Cooper) who is a good young leader so they structured up and moved the ball well,” he said said.

“But you’re not going to be able to replace a ‘G’ (Georgia Nanscawen) in leadership or on the field so it’s one of those things that we’ll just keep battling through for as long as she is out.”

The Bombers had multiple players in Lennox, Friswell and Elizabeth Snell come up from the NAB League to player their second games at VFLW level.

Major was impressed with the way the trio fitted into the Bombers’ line-up and the impact they had across the ground.

“Friswell competed one versus two, one versus three a lot of the time with them committing more numbers to defence, and I think she did well. Lennox is really strong. She’s a very strong one-on-one player so to come in and play like that, she was great,” he said.

“‘Snelly’ (Elizabeth Snell) is really clean, being a slight body around the contest, she had to really fight today. She did well and it’s a great taste of football at the higher level.”

The Bombers will return to the NEC Hangar next Sunday to take on Collingwood at 11am.

ESSENDON 1.4 2.5 3.7 6.9 (45)
WILLIAMSTOWN 0.0 1.1 1.2 2.3 (15)

Goals: Friswell 2, Frew 2, Clifford, Barba

Best: Frew, McIntosh, Clifford, Gardner, Lennox, Friswell