This Sunday, both Essendon's VWFL Championship and Community sides take on the Tigers at La Trobe University, Bundoora, with a place in the next stage of the finals firmly in sight.

After finishing second in both divisions, our teams have earned the valuable double chance.  

Championship: Hopeful for a return to the big dance

  • Second Place – five wins, three losses – 136% 
  • Mitch Stretton – 43 goals, fifth best in the league 
  • Chris Henderson – 40 goals, sixth best in the league 
  • Caleb Logan – 37 goals, eighth best in the league 
  • 796 points for – first in league scoring 

For our Championship team, Sunday represents more than just another final. The group is chasing a return to the Grand Final for the first time since 2022, and the hunger to take that next step has been building all year. 

Halfway through the home-and-away season, the team was sitting fourth, just one game above the last-placed Saints, after a series of narrow losses. Since the Dreamtime Game at the NEC Hangar, however, the group has found its stride, winning its final four games of the season by an average margin of 40 points. 

The last time they faced the Tigers was at the Shepparton Sports Stadium, where the Bombers levelled the season series with a convincing 29-point victory. 

02:47

VWFL Dreamtime | The Last Word

Hear from Chris Henderson following Essendon's Dreamtime clash with Richmond at the NEC Hangar.

Community: The dream of back-to-back flags 

  • Second Place – six wins, two losses – 197% 
  • Ben Milton – 24 goals, third best in the league 
  • Kaleb Powell – 22 goals, fourth best in the league 
  • 267 points against – first for fewest opposition points conceded 

Our Community team enters the finals with a different kind of motivation: the chance to make history and become back-to-back premiers. 

The side has put itself in position to do it again. A second-place finish means the Community team has earned the same double chance, but the focus this week will be on taking the direct route beating the Tigers and moving one step closer to another premiership decider. 

The Finals Equation 

The equation is simple. Win on Sunday, and the teams move closer to the grand final stage. Lose, and the double chance comes into play, with our sides set to face the winner of next week’s 3 v 4 matchup between the Hawks and Collingwood. 

There is plenty on the line, and the support from the sidelines can make a real difference. With both teams entering finals from second spot, both carrying strong belief, and both chasing something special, Sunday shapes as a massive day for the program. 

Livestream: VWFL Finals Series Livestreaming Link 

Match details:  

Sunday 2 August, 1:00pm – Community at La Trobe University, Bundoora, Court 1 

Sunday 2 August, 2:00pm – Championship at La Trobe University, Bundoora, Court 2