Essendon's AFLW Dreamtime activities in Darwin last week showcased the power of football in bringing communities together.

In addition to a thrilling 15-point win where the Bombers braved out a last-quarter fightback from Richmond to improve to 3-0, the involvement of both Clubs in the local areas rounded out a huge week of community engagement.

Celebrating First Nations culture over the course of three days, the Bombers delivered extensive programming that connected with schools, kindergarten groups, and local football programs across the Northern Territory. 

The program began on Wednesday night with a traditional welcome at the team hotel by Larrakia Traditional Owner, Aunty Jeanneen McLennan.

This meaningful start to the visit was complemented by presentations on the significance of Dreamtime and Aboriginal culture, delivered by Olympic Gold Medallist Nova Peris and Leanne Brooke (Essendon's GM - The Long Walk & Indigenous Affairs Advisor).

A highlight of the evening was the gift exchange story, featuring hand screen-printed designs of Taungurung Biik on handmade paper from Yarn Strong Sista. The artwork is deeply grounded in Taungurung Biik culture, honouring the stories, landscapes, and cultural practices of their ancestors. Taungurung country is located in central Victoria.  

Thursday saw the AFLW players visit four schools across Darwin: Driver Primary School, Moulden Park Primary School, Mother Teresa Catholic College, and Haileybury Rendal School.

Each visit featured interactive Q&A sessions and football clinics, with every student receiving Essendon giveaways and football packs, thanks to the support of Coles. 

The club also engaged with early childhood education, visiting kindergarten groups with AFLW players making appearances at multiple Goodstart centres including Wulagi, Nightcliff, Darwin Airport, and Tiwi (Darwin), as well as Jingili Primary School.  

A key innovation for the Club was the pilot of Marngrook Kids, a program developed in partnership with The Long Walk. This initiative celebrates First Nations culture through Indigenous games and explores their connection to the heritage of AFL and Essendon's place within that.

The program was rolled out across the kindergarten visits, providing young kids with an authentic connection to the cultural roots of footy. 

In a demonstration of unity and respect, both Richmond and Essendon came together for a joint Welcome to Country ceremony at TIO Stadium, acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land and setting the tone for the weekend's celebrations. 

The Club's Captain's Run took on special significance with community members invited to be part of the team's final preparations. Seven female students from Xavier Catholic College on the Tiwi Islands - who have excelled in the Essendon Academy program this year - were flown over to participate in Dreamtime activities.  

The session also included 15 young participants from the MLLLC Make Your Mark program, while future talent from the Northern Territory were invited to help forge relationships with the club and experience the Essendon culture firsthand. 

Friday brought together students from Xavier College with the AFLW players in the team's common room for an intimate inner sanctum experience. This session focused on storytelling and connection, with activities including drawing, games, and PlayStation gaming.

As part of the Essendon Academy's literacy focus, students provided letters to their player mentors. The players have taken these letters back to Melbourne, with the club planning to arrange replies to maintain and grow these important connections. 

Running parallel, 15 Indigenous female coaches participating in the Indigenous Coach Development Program had the opportunity to engage with Essendon's AFLW coaching panel. This session provided invaluable insights into developing coaching skills and represents Essendon's commitment to nurturing the next generation of Indigenous coaches. 

As part of the club's ongoing relationship with the Tiwi Bombers men's and women's programs, Essendon donated a range of equipment to support the local football community. The donation included new boots, runners, training gear, and eskies, providing practical support to the Northern Territory Football League club.  

The weekend culminated with an inclusive match day experience. The traditional guard of honour was opened to the broader community, featuring NT talented female footballers, schools from the Tiwi Islands, representatives from the Michael Long Foundation, and many other community groups. 

The club also supported the She Can Coach program by selecting three coaches who head up teams in the Tiwi Islands Football League. Each coach was partnered with an Essendon line coach and integrated into the pre-game, half-time, and post-game coaching processes, providing invaluable professional development opportunities.  

The resounding success in the community was matched by a terrific on-field spectacle.

Getting off to a strong start, the Dons established an early lead and held on strongly even in the wake of a spirited comeback from Richmond early in the last term.

Led by the efforts of star midfielder Georgia Nanscawen (27 disposals) and a clutch late goal from Georgia Gee, the Dons have made their best start to an AFLW season to date and are in very good touch ahead of their return to Windy Hill against Geelong on Sunday.

A crowd of 8,592 flocked into TIO Stadium for the clash, capping off a brilliant weekend for the squad and wider Club.

The Bombers' aspirations to build on their longstanding connections with the NT received another positive boost from the three-day block, with both Essendon and Richmond setting a strong foundation for Dreamtime in Darwin into the future.