ESSENDON has secured its first win of the season, coming from behind then holding on for an eight-point win over Greater Western Sydney at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.

With both sides languishing near the bottom of the ladder, the high-stakes clash was all about survival, and it was the Bombers who ultimately seized their moment, claiming a 6.7 (43) to 5.5 (35) victory.

GIANTS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

Although the Giants built a match-high 25-point lead early in the third term, their advantage quickly unravelled in the second half as the Bombers rallied, booting 5.3 while restricting GWS to just a single behind for the remainder of the game.

As the pressure mounted, the Giants struggled to find an answer. While Essendon held a slight 25–22 edge at the clearances, the Giants dominated entry volume with a 50–23 advantage in inside 50s.

However, it was the visitors who proved far more efficient in front of goal. The Bombers converted 26 per cent of their entries, contrasting sharply with the Giants' wasteful 10 per cent conversion rate.

Maddy Prespakis put the team on her back, driving the comeback with a game-high 35 disposals, a game-high 580 metres gained, and a pivotal goal — spearheading the Bombers' third-term surge — while Emily Gough also proved lively with two majors.

For the Giants, Alyce Parker led from the front with two goals, including the opener, alongside 25 disposals, five clearances, and eight tackles.

In her milestone 50th AFLW game, GWS utility Jessica Doyle also fought hard, reeling in a series of key intercept marks.

Goldsworthy boosts Giants in classy return from injury
The Giants were boosted by the return of reigning Gabrielle Trainor Medallist, Zarlie Goldsworthy, who made her long-awaited season debut after recovering from a lower-leg fracture suffered during the pre-season. Following a rigorous rehabilitation, Goldsworthy’s comeback injected much-needed class and firepower into GWS’s midfield and forward line. To help bolster the Giants' scoring avenues while carefully managing her workload, Goldsworthy was deployed predominantly in attack, playing on restricted minutes as part of a measured return to match play. She finished with 11 disposals, three clearances and six tackles.  

Parker's lucky bounce extends Giants' second-quarter surge
Alyce Parker capitalised on a moment of fortune to fuel GWS's momentum in the second term. Pressing deep into attack, she launched a crafty left-foot snap from inside the forward 50 that took a favourable, wicked bounce. This unpredictable tumble completely eluded the Essendon backline, leaving even Parker surprised, before rolling cleanly through an unguarded goal square for her second major of the contest, capping off a brilliant individual effort.

Gay’s midfield move ignites Essendon revival
To help trigger Essendon’s second-half revival, coach Natalie Wood shifted Maddison Gay into the midfield to support Madison Prespakis and add some drive to the Bombers' ball movement. Gay made the most of her move upfield, slotting a set-shot goal in the third term before helping launch the very next scoring chain. "We put Maddi Gay around the ball, and I think that helped to open it up... we sort of put that support around Mads Prespakis as well," Wood said post-match. The move paid immediate dividends, with Gay's ability to win the ball in congestion helping spark Essendon's transition game. "Maddi Gay is so good at extracting the ball with a little bit of space and setting up in attack," Wood added.

Up next
Essendon will visit Mission Whitten Oval to face the Western Bulldogs on Friday at 7:15 pm AEST, while Greater Western Sydney travels to Geelong to face the Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday at 5:05pm AEST.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY      3.1    5.4    5.5    5.5 (35)
ESSENDON                                  1.2    1.4     4.7    6.7 (43)
 
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Parker 2, Eva, Brazendale, Huntington 
Essendon: Gough 2, Toogood, Gay, Prespakis, Bannister
 
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Parker, Brazendale, Garnett, Lucas-Rodd, McCormick, Janschek
Essendon: Prespakis, Toogood, Gay, Gough, Wales, Gaylor, Busch
 
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Essendon: Nil

Crowd: 1044 at Henson Park