Essendon has enjoyed some relief from a self-inflicted month from hell through a Maddy Prespakis-inspired 26-point win over Hawthorn in both clubs’ AFLW debuts.
Key points:
- The Bombers triumphed 7.11 (53) to 4.3 (27)
- Prespakis impressed with a goal and 26 disposals for the Bombers
- The Swans lost by 29 points to the Saints in their AFLW debut
Another club making its debut, the Sydney Swans, fell by 29 points to St Kilda earlier on Saturday evening.
The Bombers’ board upheaval and drama in their men’s program have dominated football headlines over the last fortnight.
But the off-field turbulence didn’t distract their women’s team, who marked their first appearance in the expanded 18-team competition with a 7.11 (53) to 4.3 (27) win at Docklands.
A crowd of 12,092 justified the fixture being moved from Port Melbourne’s smaller North Port Oval after a campaign led by Hawks coach Bec Goddard.
Fans were treated to an entertaining contest as marquee recruit Prespakis led the Bombers’ the midfield with 26 disposals and six clearances, and put the icing on the cake with a late goal.
Essendon kicked the final four majors and kept their opponents scoreless in the last quarter after Hawthorn had briefly hit the front midway through the third term.
Bombers co-captain Bonnie Toogood (two goals) starred in attack and debutante Paige Scott (16 disposals, one goal) was important, while Jacqui Vogt and Danielle Marshall anchored the backline well.
Top draft pick Jasmine Fleming (11 disposals) shone on debut for the Hawks, who were plucky but lacked Essendon’s spread of contributors.
Tamara Smith (14 disposals, six clearances), Tilly Lucas-Rodd (16, five) and Zoe Barbakos (two) also did well.
Goddard drew a literal line in the sand in the change room pre-match in a bid to inspire her side, invoking the spirit of the Essendon-Hawthorn rivalry with a reference the infamous 2004 AFL contest.
The Bombers kicked the opening goal through Jess Wuetschner’s neat left-foot snap after five minutes but didn’t have things all their own way in a feisty contest that featured a quarter-time melee.
There was an emotional moment for Sophie Locke when she converted a free kick at the top of the goal square to give Hawthorn their first major.
Locke, who lost her mother to cancer earlier this month, kissed her black arm band and pointed to the skies after the historic moment.
Sarah Perkins’ first goal for her fourth AFLW club and another to Barbakos after a goal-line scrap helped give the Hawks the lead for the first time soon after halftime.
But Marshall’s long-range set shot wrested back momentum for the Bombers, who never looked back.
Swans go down to Saints
St Kilda denied Sydney a fairytale AFLW debut as Kate Shierlaw booted four goals to set up an away victory in front of a fervent crowd at North Sydney Oval.
The inaugural Swans rode a wave of emotion and effort to outplay the Saints for much of the opening term, but the visitors impressed after the first change to triumph 8.8 (56) to 4.3 (27).
The Swans’ loss could come at a further cost as number one draft pick Montana Ham went to ground and immediately clutched at her knee in the dying stages of the final term and had to be helped from the field.
With the scores tight in the second term, Shierlaw kicked two goals in as many minutes to open up a 21-point lead that the Saints never looked like giving up despite it being a memorable occasion for the Swans in front of 8,264 spectators.
The tall forward went on to cause the Swans defence concerns throughout and was the dominant target on the field.
The Saints’ prized recruit Nicola Stevens made an ideal start for her new club and in her 50th match, kicking truly to open the scoring after only 90 seconds.
Rebecca Privitelli put her name in the record books soon after as the Swans first AFLW player to boot a goal, making the most of a free kick 25 metres out and directly in front to set off wild celebrations.
Georgia Patrikios had a match-high 17 disposals and added strength to the Saints midfield in her first match after sitting out season six when choosing not to meet vaccination requirements, while Tarni White also gathered 17 touches.
Clara Fitzpatrick made a stirring return after two seasons on the sidelines due to visa issues and an ACL injury and Saints midfielder Molly McDonald (13) showed that she is ready to emerge as a key player in her fourth season.
The Swans fielded 11 debutantes including Ham who grew into the game before her injury but co-captain Lauren Szigeti was the pick of the first-gamers and Cynthia Hamilton also impressed.
In a spirited first showing, the Swans controlled the ball and territory for long periods but the Saints gradually wore them down to reveal they are well placed to improve on a second-last finish last season.
The Swans will take their first road trip to face Collingwood at Victoria Park next Sunday, while the Saints face another expansion club in Hawthorn later the same day.
AAP
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