Tara Murray
Essendon’s Victorian Football League women’s side aren’t getting ahead of themselves despite an unbeaten start to the season.
The Bombers sit atop the table after four rounds on the back of four comprehensive wins to start the year.
While happy with how the side is tracking, Bombers coach Brendan Major said it was still early in the season and there’s a lot to play out.
“I don’t tend to look at that [the ladder] until about half way through the year,” he said.
“We’ve played some pretty good football, but many of the teams aren’t at full strength.
“Some teams will welcome back between 12 and 15 [AFLW] players. We’ve played some of the teams that will be in the bottom half.
“There will be some changes to the competition ladder, it’s not an indication of where we are at.”
The Bombers were again convincing in their win in their most recent win against Williamstown on Saturday.
In wet conditions the Bombers beat the Seagulls, 10.5 (65)-2.1 (13).
Mia-Rae Clifford and Federica Frew kicked three goals each in the win.
Major said it was a good challenge in different conditions to what they had been playing in.
“It was a good performance considering the conditions,” he said.
“We played some really good football and an opportunity to play footy the way we want in trying conditions.”
“They defended pretty well.”
One of the keys in the match, was the Bombers ability to use the ball better in the front half.
The core group of Clifford, Jessie Davies, Renee Tierney, Celia McIntosh and Frew are leading the way.
“The forward line has played a few games together,” Major said. “They’re really unselfish and really good to watch.
“Someone like Liv Manfre has come in [from the Calder Cannons] and played a role and is really competing and finding the right spots.”
Major said the win was a real team performance. He said some of the most impressive things in the win were things like shepherds, blocks and communication, things that don’t show up on the stats sheet.
Irishwomen Joanne Doonan made her debut for the Bombers in the win.
The Bombers are set to face St Kilda in round five on Sunday.
Major said it would be a really good challenge.
“They use the ball well and are really well coached. “This will be a litmus test for us.”
