WSL2 (Editor)

The girls spent their weekend up in Albury-Wodonga taking part in the inaugural John Mason Memorial Cup. They made the grand final game, but lost in a penalty shoot out after scores were level at full time. The long road trip home plus the games and social demands took their toll on the side, with half the girls too sick to play this week, incuding the coach suffering from a more-than-a-Man-Flu affliction. A few WSL3 ladies were available to fill in, but a forfeit was eventually called when a team could not be mustered.

Essendon were defeated by Monash : 0 - 8 (FORFEIT)  

BELOW : Runners up : our John Mason Memorial Cup team

WSL3 (Editor)

The girls had a scheduled bye this week, enjoying an exteneded break following the school holidays. Their match next week will be against ladder leaders, Monash - BOOM!

MSL4 - Report by Andrew Cover

Welcome Back, Brian! Amid the chaos of this week's game, one of the brightest moments was the long-awaited return of Brian Wee — playing his first match in over a year. His presence was felt immediately, both in the pool and on the bench, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a calm authority. His comeback was capped off with a second-quarter goal... although, mysteriously, it never made it onto the scoresheet. (We saw it. It happened.)

And now onto the game... The clash between Essendon and Footscray was more than just a battle of goals — it was a wake-up call. From the opening whistle, it was clear Essendon weren’t firing on all cylinders. The first and second quarters were scrappy, disjointed, and lacking direction. Despite fielding a full 13-man squad, the synergy we’ve come to expect from this group was notably absent. Errant passes, broken plays, and a concerning lack of cohesion gave a determined Footscray side the upper hand early.

Trailing 2–3 at halftime, it took Riccardo’s impassioned halftime spray to snap us out of it. It wasn’t polite. It wasn’t gentle. But it was exactly what we needed. The message was clear: wake up, work together, and play like a team. And respond we did. The third quarter was a statement. Ryan exploded with a devastating hat-trick, slicing through Footscray’s defence with surgical precision. He was well supported by Sam B and Millsy Jr., who each added to the tally, showcasing the teamwork we’d been missing. The defence tightened, the passes sharpened, and for the first time all night, Essendon looked dangerous — outscoring Footscray 5–1 for the quarter. But momentum is a fragile thing. The fourth quarter saw the wheels begin to wobble again. Passes became rushed, defence softened, and Footscray, to their credit, fought back hard — netting three goals to our one (a crucial strike from Paul). As the final minutes ticked away, tension rose and it felt like the collapse was coming. But the final whistle saved us.

Game Highlights :

• With Lee out, Paul stepped up as swim-up man — and delivered with blistering pace.

• Callum’s gritty second-quarter goal helped keep us in touch.

• Ambrose’s relentless hustle was rewarded with one of the night’s most important goals.

• Ryan’s third-quarter hat-trick? Pure magic.

• Great goal by SamB in the third - full pool swim down with the ball and score!

• Shoutout to the goalies: Andrew for the first three quarters and MattyL in the final term - solid work all round.

Essendon got the win - but only just. The final scoreline flatters us, and we can’t keep relying on individual brilliance or halftime rev-ups to get the job done. With only five games remaining until finals, it’s time to find consistency, discipline, and above all - teamwork. The talent is there. The belief is there. Now we need to bring it together - and hold it together - for four full quarters.

Essendon defeated Footscray : 8 - 7    

Goals : Ryan 3, Paul 2, SamB 1, Ambrose 1, Callum 1 (+1 goal from Brian, it really did happen!)