Essendon have bowed out of the 2023 VWFL season after a 21-point loss to Richmond in Sunday’s elimination final.

A hotly-contested start saw both sides struggle to gain a clear scoreboard advantage, with the moves of star Bombers Caleb Logan and Hayden Farley into defence generating solid ball movement.

The Tigers took an 18-point advantage into the main break, before their centre dominance became too much of a factor for the Bombers to handle after half-time.

Despite some strong efforts from James Leonard and Scott van Gemert to keep the contest alive, the Tigers’ burst early in the final term ultimately sealed the result.

The Bombers now look ahead to a new opportunity in 2024, hoping to go a step further.

ESSENDON   8.7   (55)
RICHMOND   12.4  (76)