Blitz on the bridge in the middle again?
One game of this and I’m hooked.
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Sounds good to me.
It’s gonna be a bit chill (footy is a winter sport!) but updated forecasts suggest no rain.
VELCRO do the press conference to discuss farking Fark Carlton.
Both make it clear that some Fark Carltoners cracked the sads big time over their departure.
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Was hoping this would get moved purely to open up food options. If it’s anything like the VFLW Grand final there’ll be no Hot Chips and that’s not going to go down well with Evs11 and Evs5
Small sample, but:
What the hell were you doing with the ball, FC? 5.7 disposals for us to enter fifty, 12.1 for you losers.
(Hawks 6.6, Pies 5.6)
I would definitely take a 22-36 loss in the ruck this week.
Basically, transcript of our press conference.
LOL at the captions of the two first photos. Pick a 2022 season, any 2022 season.
Maddy Prespakis celebrates a goal during round one, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
FORMER AFLW best and fairest winner Maddy Prespakis said she was “disappointed” in some responses from Carlton teammates when informing them she was moving to Essendon.
With the Bombers set to face the Blues for the first time on Sunday, Prespakis said difficult conversations were had after she decided to make the move to the fledgling AFLW side.
“In some ways I was a little bit surprised in the way some people reacted to it, in terms of people we thought were really close to us, ringing some people and not getting the response we wanted back was probably a little disappointing,” Prespakis said.
"But it’s like any other workplace, you’re not going to stay at the same workplace for the rest of your life. For me, it was something I had to do individually and if it was for the team perspective, I probably would have stayed for the love of the girls I was around.
Carlton’s Kerryn Harrington (R) and Maddy Prespakis lead the team out against Geelong in R2, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
"I was really comfortable there, and that maybe crept up a little bit in the last couple of seasons. For me, I just needed a fresh start and to be somewhere new, and I enjoy where I am.
“It was a big move, and it was spoken about, but I’m very thankful for the people who supported me, understood why and asked questions as to why. I’m very glad I’ve found my new home now, and the season’s started, so I’m now a Bomber.”
Maddy Prespakis celebrates a goal with teammates during the R1 clash between Essendon and Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on August 27, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
Teammate Georgia Gee echoed Prespakis, having also joined the Bombers after playing five seasons at the Blues.
“I was a little bit disappointed in a few of the responses we got, but I guess that’s just what comes with it,” Gee said.
“It’s definitely hard losing teammates, so I understand, but we’ve moved on from that now, we’re here and I’m happy to be here. Full respect for Carlton, but definitely happy where we’re at now.”
Georgia Gee in action for Essendon in round one against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on August 27, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
Prespakis – a three-time best and fairest winner at Carlton – said she felt a change was needed after an up-and-down few years at Ikon Park.
“I thought I wasn’t getting any better, I was stagnant. My 2020 year I came from out of nowhere (to win the AFLW best and fairest), I put a lot of pressure on myself internally but I felt it pretty externally, and I wasn’t sure how to deal with that,” Prespakis said.
"I stayed pretty stagnant for the last 12-18 months, so I think as well I was so comfortable, I didn’t push myself to different boundaries.
“I think there were a lot of back and forth conversation, what I thought was best, but in the end it came down to stepping out of my comfort zone, pushing myself forward and becoming a bigger and better person.”
Young Carlton star Maddy Prespakis with her AFLW best-and-fairest award. Picture: Michael Willson
Prespakis and Gee were among the newly signed Essendon AFLW players who were involved in the club’s 150th celebrations, which occurred in pre-match before the Bombers and Blues met in round 13 of the men’s competition.
When the group were introduced, the Carlton fans made their displeasure at the move known, with boos scattered among the applause from Essendon supporters.
“It was kind of just a laugh. I just stood there, we were smiling, we heard the boos and it was like, ‘are we actually getting booed?’ I just laughed about it, it doesn’t make me sad or anything. I still love Carlton no matter what, it’s just unfortunate I’m wearing different colours now,” Prespakis said.
“The boos are going to come, that’s all part of footy, that’s all part of any sport, so people get it wherever they go. I’m sure we’ll embrace it, we have each other’s backs and our teammates do too.”
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tl;dr version:
- broadcast on 7/Fox/Kayo
- Tickets will also be available to purchase on the day, subject to availability, from the ticket window located at the Williamstown Road entry.
- Our Member Services team will be located at the two entries and inside the stadium at the Williamstown Road end of the ground. If you are an adult AFLW member wanting to collect your Foundation Member Picnic Rug, please remember to bring your coupon from your member pack to redeem.
- lots of activations and prizes
AFLW Round 2: Essendon v Carlton
ETU Stadium (Port Melbourne), Sunday September 4, 11:10am
Broadcast: Our blockbuster clash with the Blues will be broadcast live and free on Seven Mate and Seven Mate HD from 11:00am and also available to watch ad free on Fox Footy.
Tickets: Secure your spot with adult tickets available for just $10, while under-18s can come along absolutely free. Grab your tickets here.
Getting to and into the game
- Gates will open at 10:00am for an 11:10am bounce.
- Parking is available in the streets surrounding ETU Stadium, please be sure to check any council signage for directions.
- Entry to ETU Stadium will be via the main gate on Williamstown Road and the secondary gate on Ingles Street. Tickets will also be available to purchase on the day, subject to availability, from the ticket window located at the Williamstown Road entry.
Membership
- Your Mobile Membership via the Essendon App is your ticket to the game. All the information you need to access your Mobile Membership can be found here.
- Members who have redeemed a ticket via Ticketmaster using their membership must use their Ticketmaster issued ticket to enter the venue.
- Our Member Services team will be located at the two entries and inside the stadium at the Williamstown Road end of the ground. If you are an adult AFLW member wanting to collect your Foundation Member Picnic Rug, please remember to bring your coupon from your member pack to redeem.
- All access for this game is general admission.
- The EFC Member Zone is located at the Williamstown Road end of the ground. Enjoy a spot on the hill with fellow members, with umbrella coverage and beanbags a plenty. Simply show your AFL or AFLW mobile membership card, physical member card or 150-year medallion to enter the zone.
- First 10x AFLW Members to the membership tent, will receive a Fujitsu Comfort Pack
Partners and Activations
- Our clash with Carlton is proudly presented by our game day partner Toyota Forklifts.
- Keep an eye out for the team from Toyota Forklifts , who will have some very calming giveaways throughout the game.
- You can also grab yourself a 2022 AFLW team poster, thanks to Palo Alto Networks, by visiting the membership and merchandise marquee.
- Just by being at the game you will be in with a chance to kick for cash with the Toyota Forklifts kicking challenge at three quarter time.
- Macca’s Kick 2 Kick will be back post game on Sunday afternoon. Make sure you bring or grab yourself a footy at the game to take part!
Food and Beverages: A wide range of footy fare and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase around the ground on Sunday.
Merchandise: Get your hands on all the latest AFLW merchandise inside the main gate, in the massive merchandise and membership marquee. Grab a badge, scarf or beanie and be sure to show your member card or mobile membership to receive 10% off!
No I don’t… I didn’t use it for the Hawks game, I’ll see what app is the easiest to use on the day.
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Love that the media team is leaning into the grudge match vibes putting Maddy and Georgia up for a presser 
reckon there might be a bit of fire in this one, after all, Mads doesn’t mind getting into a scrap with former teammates does she…
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And Alana and Fede hate having to get involved.
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But none of Borg/Nalder or Dicker/Vernon will be involved in this match! What could there be to fight about?
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When the Fark Carlton Flogs go to boo MP4, we need to respond each occasion with a loud “ONE OF US… ONE OF US” chant!
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Considering DJRs response to the Hawthorn chants was “SUUUCK” I volunteer him.
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Booooo.
Essendon started its AFLW journey with a bang last weekend, showing off its strong and dynamic forward set up. The Bombers’ 53 points is the highest score of any team on debut, as was their 12 marks inside 50. But it wasn’t only in the air where they found dominance in attack, they also laid 15 tackles from 36 inside 50s to create repeat opportunities. This forward-half game sets them up well to take on Carlton this weekend, who showed their vulnerabilities in this area in round one.
Over several years, the Blues have built a reliable defensive line that uses the ball better than any other line, but the inundation of Collingwood’s forward 50 entries last week exposed them and forced poor ball use. They simply cannot allow Essendon to do the same this week, particularly given how adept the Bombers are at bringing that sort of heat once in their attacking half. This starts with strength around the contest, but more importantly, smart decision making once they do win the ball through the middle of the ground. Carlton has strong marking targets up front, but they need to send it into attack to get the likes of Phoebe McWilliams and Mia Austin into the game.
Tip: Carlton will have learned from round one and will find more ball in the front half. Carlton by five points.
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Interesting reading until the tip.
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Meh.
They could spoken about us losing our structure and therefore struggling to escape the back half, how much of our conceded score was due to being caught out down back by speed/smalls… and contrarily how well we intercepted most of what came through, especially what was intended for the Hawk tall forwards.
But they didn’t. They didn’t even mention the rucks! They seemed to think Fark Carlton would want and win a shootout.
P.S. Name Morcs!
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yes, it’s time
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Tips are split evenly, 5-5. Yes, Libby Birch tipped us: she must REALLY hate Fark Carlton 
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Fark Carlton are soooooooo getting fined.