IT’S the penultimate game of the season and it’s all or nothing as Essendon and Port Melbourne strive to earn another crack at Collingwood for the 2023 rebel VFLW premiership.

The Borough went down to the Magpies by 26 points in the qualifying final and the Bombers fell short by just four points in last week’s second semi, but both had victories over the minor premier during the home and away season and will believe they can repeat the dose if they are good enough to get to the last Sunday in July.

Port has the confidence of breaking its finals duck last week and the Bombers know they have what it takes after winning last year’s flag, so who goes to ETU Stadium to take on Collingwood for the title?

Week Three fixture released for 2023 rebel VFLW Finals Series

PRELIMINARY FINAL: ESSENDON vs PORT MELBOURNE

Sunday July 23, 2:00pm, ETU Stadium
Head-to-head: Port Melbourne 2-1. At ETU Stadium: Essendon 1-0. Streak: Port Melbourne 1

THIS SEASON

Round 13 at ETU Stadium
PORT MELBOURNE 0.0, 1.1, 3.1, 3.4 (22)
ESSENDON 0.1, 0.1, 2.1, 3.1 (19)

BEST
Port Melbourne: K. O'Keefe, L. Caruso, J. Williams, E. Harley, I. Hartog, K. Whitehead
Essendon: E. Chaston, S. Molan, G. Dicker, B. Clarke, Z. Hurrell, M. Pearson

GOALS
Port Melbourne: N. Borg, F. Frew, J. Williams
Essendon: E. Chaston, M. Clifford, S. Orritt

DISPOSALS
Port Melbourne: L. Caruso 17, O. Barton 16, K. O’Keefe 15, E. Harley 14, I. Hartog, K. Whitehead, J. Williams 13
Essendon: E. Chaston, S. Molan 22, G. Dicker 21, M. Ryan 16, K. Heil 13

PREVIOUS HEAD-TO-HEAD

February 19, 2022: Essendon 12.7 79 def Port Melbourne 2.4 16 (NEC Hangar)
March 28, 2021: Port Melbourne 6.2 38 def Essendon 4.3 27 (NEC Hangar)

PAST FIVE MATCHES - ESSENDON

SF2: 2.6 18 lost to Collingwood 3.4 22 (Victoria Park)
EF2: 4.7 31 def Box Hill Hawks 3.3 21 (Box Hill City Oval)
R14: 6.5 41 def Western Bulldogs 4.4 28 (Windy Hill)
R13: 3.1 19 lost to Port Melbourne 3.4 22 (ETU Stadium)
R12: 4.6 30 def Casey Demons 3.7 25 (Casey Fields)

PAST FIVE MATCHES - PORT MELBOURNE

SF1: 5.7 37 def Carlton 5.6 36 (ETU Stadium)
QF: 3.4 22 lost to Collingwood 7.6 48 (Victoria Park)
R14: 4.2 26 lost to Casey Demons 5.6 36 (Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval)
R13: 3.4 22 def Essendon 3.1 19 (ETU Stadium)
R12: 8.10 58 def Darebin 2.5 17 (La Trobe University)

SUMMARY

The Borough finally broke through for their first finals victory last week at the third attempt, which would have been a huge relief for all involved, especially given the fact it was a one-point thriller. They will take plenty of confidence in against the reigning premiers, with the bonus of playing on their home ground – where they edged the Bombers out in a thriller less than a month ago. But finals are a different ball game and Essendon has plenty of experience at winning them.

EARLY PREDICTION

Essendon by 6