The teams are in for the rebel VFLW preliminary final, where Essendon and Port Melbourne will be fighting for a place in this year’s premiership decider.
Essendon’s hopes of keeping its title defence alive have received a boost with premiership defender Tamsin Crook overcoming a calf injury to regain her position in the team for the do-or-die final at ETU Stadium on Sunday.
Crook, 20, played every game of the home-and-away season but has missed both the Bombers’ finals after breaking down in Round 14 against Western Bulldogs.
The Moonee Valley product returns to the team in place of Madison Gray, who has been named in the emergencies after filling in for Crook in those two finals.
The Borough also regains an important player, with forward Emily Harley returning after being a late withdrawal from the team that beat Carlton by a point in the first semi-final last week.
The 21-year-old had played every game since returning from injury in Round 8 and comes back in for her late replacement last week in Molly Denahy-Maloney, who is again in the emergencies.
The winner of Sunday’s match will take on Collingwood in next Sunday’s rebel VFLW Grand Final at ETU Stadium.
Click here for all the match details for Sunday’s preliminary final. Patrons are advised that dogs are not permitted into ETU Stadium.
All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
Casey Radio 97.7FM will also be taking the game from ETU Stadium on Sunday.
ESSENDON vs PORT MELBOURNE
Preliminary Final
Sunday July 23, 2:00pm, ETU Stadium
Head-to-head: Port Melbourne 2-1. At ETU Stadium: Port Melbourne 1-0; Streak: Port Melbourne 1
ESSENDON
B: B. Clarke (45), T. Crook (49)
HB: S. Orritt (68), C. Ugle (41), Z. Hurrell (53)
C: K. Heil (78), R. Sutton (72), M. Huta (56)
HF: M. Ford (42), M. Ryan (76), O. Manfre (43)
F: S. Molan (73), M. Clifford (47)
R: J. Morrow (60), E. Chaston (61), G. Dicker (44)
INT: M. Pearson (64), T. Davidge (77), C. Prpic (58), J. Richardson (52), M. Wilson (66)
EMG: L. Spargo (51), M. Gray (48), E. Cornish (55)
IN: T. Crook
OUT: M. Gray
PORT MELBOURNE
B: O. Barton (1), L. Davie (6)
HB: L. Caruso (5), M. McKellar (14), E. Morrison (10)
C: C. Dyett (15), J. Williams (26), I. Stutt (29)
HF: F. Frew (28), G. Alomes (32), N. Borg (12)
F: C. Bromage (4), E. Harley (17)
R: B. Wilson (16), K. O'Keefe (18), I. Hartog (42)
INT: K. Whitehead (8), L. Wright (19), A. Campbell (20), C. Slater (13), K. Dudley (2)
EMG: M. Shaw (11), M. Denahy Maloney (35), M. Mottram (24), B. Mueck (31), L. Hart (39), E. Robins (40), R. Dale (41), K. Adams (7)
IN: E. Harley
OUT: M. Denahy Maloney
UMPIRES
FIELD: Liam Dye, Harry Warmington, Michael Whelan. Emerg: Jon Clark. BOUNDARY: Nick Bahr, Solomon Miesen, Jon Peck. GOAL: Connor Petrie, Phillip Pettinella. Emerg: Jenna Green.
