ESSENDON qualified for a back-to-back finals series with a 36-point win over Carlton on Saturday night, breaking Narrm hearts in the process.

The win sees the Bombers qualify for the playoffs, moving ahead of the Dees on the ladder after a 9.6 (60) to 3.6 (24) win under the Melbourne setting sun at Ikon Park.

BLUE against BOMBERS Complete match coverage and statistics

But it didn’t come without pain, as co-captain Bonnie Toogood was ruled out at quarter-time with an ankle injury, leaving a cloud over the key forward important for the playoff final of the next week.

Maddi Gay (33 disposals at 90.9 per cent, 10 points) was the star, doing what she wanted as Essendon halfback and showing off her elite kicking skills, while Georgia Nanscawen (25 transfers, a goal) was everywhere.

Already without Steph Wales’ important ruck for the match, Toogood’s loss could have been greater, but after the star missed five matches earlier this year with a knee injury, the backup option club with Ellyse Gamble in attack proved an advantage. reliable.

Gamble, in his 50th career game, scored a critical goal in the second quarter when Essendon began to gain momentum and create a gap on the scoreboard.

Despite losing a few stars before the opening siren, with Mimi Hill (groin) and Abbie McKay (adductor) both late withdrawals, Carlton were ready to fight early, desperate to spoil the Bombers’ party. But it was short-lived, with Essendon scoring three goals in the second quarter from three different players to really challenge the Blues.

It was their midfielders who did the most damage, controlling the run in the absence of Hill and McKay, then pushing forward to create a bit of chaos inside the 50 minutes.

Essendon’s ability to change gears when needed was evident. Switching from a slower, uncontested scoring game to maintain control – which ultimately carried an 83-51 count – to a difficult handball receiving game when there was a desire to advance quickly.

The Blues’ shortcomings were visible as they lost form and method in the first half whenever Essendon managed to gain a sense of control. The home side appeared to lack a key advanced target around which the rest of the forward line could operate, and the Bombers tended to exploit this with their intercepting defenders.

Maddy Guerin (22 disposals, seven clearances) and Keeley Sherar (27 disposals, nine tackles) worked hard to carry the Blues midfield group, and Jess Good (11 disposals, 40 hit-outs) dominated the battle, but it wasn’t enough. to improve Essendon’s system around the ball.

Bonnie’s Unlucky Year
Essendon co-captain Bonnie Toogood, who missed part of the season with an MCL injury, was just getting going in the club’s do-or-die match in Week 10. But she lasted less than a quarter, suffering from an injury to her left ankle at the start of the match. The 2023 All-Australian key forward spent much of the opening term in conference with club doctors on the bench and attempted a few trials to prove her fitness to return to the field, but was unconvincing . By the first break, she had been ruled out for the rest of the game, and her availability for the Bombers’ playoff final next week will be murky.

Significant pain in front of the siren
Before the opening siren had even sounded, Carlton was down two stars. Mimi Hill was the first blow, named as a late withdrawal with a groin problem, while midfielder Abbie McKay suffered another groin strain during the group warm-up. Hill has been a crucial presence on the Blues’ half-back line this year, with his ball-winning ability and aggressive running worrying opposition forward lines, and McKay’s bull strength in the middle has been a point anchor. The Blues’ goal was to advance to the final round and ruin Essendon’s run to back-to-back finals series, but without both the task was simply becoming too big.

To be continued
It’s the end of the road for Carlton, who end the season with four wins from 11 starts, while Essendon will await Sunday’s results to find out who they face in next week’s elimination final, with Walyalup leading the way.

CARLTON 1.2 2.4 2.5 3.6 (24)
ESSENDON 1.0 4.1 7.2 9.6 (60)

GOALS
Carlton: Austin, Vescio, Halfpenny
Essendon: Radford, Gaylor, Nanscawen, Gamble, Morcom, Vogt, Gee, Bannister, A.Clarke

BEST
Carlton: Guérin, Sherar, Fitzgerald, Good, Peterson
Essendon: Nanscawen, Gay, Gaylor, Morcom, Radford, Prespakis

INJURIES
Carlton: Pound (headbutt), Goss (right ankle)
Essendon: Toogood (left ankle)

LATE CHANGES
Carlton: Mimi Hill (groin) replaced on the selected team by Amelia Velardo, Abbie McKay (adductor) replaced on the selected team by Lila Keck
Essendon: None

Crowd: 2,655 at Ikon Park