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St Kilda were 90 seconds from failing to score in their AFLW clash against the Western Bulldogs, as Essendon's first win of the year leaves the Saints as the only winless team in the league.
Sat 3 Oct 2026 at 5:44pmThe Saints remain winless and kicked just a single behind against the Bulldogs in Ballarat. St Kilda have kicked just a single point, the club's lowest ever score in an AFLW match, as the Western Bulldogs scored a 30-point victory in Ballarat.
Incredibly, the Saints only managed the behind in the final 90 seconds of the game in a horror afternoon for the winless club. The Bulldogs were barely better in tough conditions in Ballarat, with sideways rain and winds limiting the hosts to just three goals 13 on a day were accuracy in front of goal suffered.
Rylie Wilcox, Sarah Hartwig and Cleo Buttifant scored the goals for the Bulldogs, while Isabelle Pritchard was outstanding in the testing, cold conditions. Earlier, star midfielder Madison Prespakis steered battling Essendon to an eight-point comeback victory over GWS for its first win of the season.
) The Giants got out to a game-high 25-point lead at the start of the third quarter and appeared on track for a second win of the season, before Prespakis kicked into overdrive and the Bombers lifted their pressure. The star on-baller racked up 13 disposals, six contested possessions, three clearances and a goal in the third term to put Essendon on her back and inspire a terrific 6.7 to 5.5 comeback at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.
"And it's been a challenging season, I suppose, and the persistence through adversity, particularly today. "The first half wasn't what we were planning on, but to come out in the third like we did and just big moments by individuals — bloody inspiring. " The victory relieves some pressure on Bombers coach Natalie Wood and leaves St Kilda as the league's only winless team.
It was a devastating loss for Cam Bernasconi's Giants, who kicked five of the first six goals then only scored one point in a second half where they were completely overwhelmed by Essendon's manic pressure. Madison Prespakis was sensational, with 13 disposals, six contested possessions, three clearances and a goal as the Bombers came from behind. Essendon had trailed by just four points at the final change when star forward Toogood gave the Bombers a massive rev-up at the huddle.
"They were on the back foot … I was like, 'We've got 'em — lean into that, we've got them, our football is working. '" Essendon hit the front when it went from end to end and Daria Bannister tumbled home a long-range goal. Prespakis finished with a mammoth 35 disposals and five clearances, and she was well supported by Maddi Gay and Georgia Gee , along with ruck Steph Wales .
Toogood and Gough were influential in attack, while Alex Morcom and Amy Gaylor were strong down back. The Giants' best were Alyce Parker , Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Cambridge McCormick . Essendon face the finals-chasing Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Friday, while GWS have the daunting task of facing red-hot Geelong at Kardinia Park next Saturday.
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Essendon Madison Prespakis Gws Giants St Kilda Western Bulldogs Bonnie Toogood Gws
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