Essendon will celebrate a couple of big milestones on Friday night in the form of Maddy Prespakis (75 games) and Georgia Clarke (50 games).

The pair have proved vital for the Dons since they joined the competition in 2022, with Clarke establishing herself as a key presence in the back half and Prespakis starring in the middle.

For Prespakis, the milestone adds another impressive touchpoint to her CV - already a league and four-time Club best and fairest across her career with both the Dons and Blues, she’s well regarded as one of the best midfielders of her generation.

The 24-year-old has averaged 24 touches and four clearances across every game this season, again fronting up as a consistent performer and an important leader in a young Dons side.

After a stint with Geelong, Clarke has found her feet nicely since moving to the Bombers, cementing herself as one of the most reliable defenders in the squad.

Finishing third in last year’s Best and Fairest, the 25-year-old has broken out in an intercepting role down back and is highly rated internally for her steady play on the last line.

A rare venture forward saw Clarke memorably hit the scoreboard in the Dreamtime in Darwin fixture, laying the foundations for a brilliant win on the road.

The Dons take on Melbourne from 7:15pm on Friday night.