When Essendon VFLW debutant Eloise Gardner took to the NEC Hangar for round one against the Southern Saints, it was extra significant as she ran out not only as a player, but as a lifetime Bombers supporter.

The 22-year-old, who grew up idolising Matthew Lloyd and James Hird, started following Essendon through her grandfather Ken Parker, who played at the club in the 1960s.  

For Gardner to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps, it was extremely special for not only herself but also for her family, who have been her biggest supporters since she started playing football at the age of 17.

"My grandpa was at the Bombers for a year back in the ‘60s and I don’t think he ever played a game, but he has been a passionate Essendon supporter ever since so my whole family are Essendon (supporters)," Gardner said.

"It was very special for (my family) as well. They have supported me the whole way to get me to this point, so it was very special for them.

"To get to that point and play my first game means a lot and was very exciting. It made all the hard work it took to get there worth it."

As a 17-year-old, Gardner played her first season of football for Darebin Falcons in the under-18 competition, spending another three years in their senior side before making the move to Essendon ahead of the cancelled 2020 season.

It wasn’t until the AFLW was established in 2017 and the introduction of Essendon into the VFLW in 2018, however, that Gardner realised the goal of playing for the club she grew up supporting wasn’t so far out of reach.

"It is one of those things that as a kid you don’t think will ever happen. You hope it might but then especially as a female, you realise that it might not happen the way you dream of as a kid,” Gardner said.

“When the AFLW competition was announced, I had just started playing footy for Darebin. Then all of the AFLW teams wanted VFLW teams which was when Essendon came in, so it was always in the back of my mind that I’d love to have the opportunity to play for them so then I decided to move clubs and play for Essendon.”

Since moving to Essendon, Gardner has formed many close friendships but has a special bond with vice-captain Courtney Ugle, who presented Gardner with her Bombers jumper before the round one clash with the Southern Saints.

"I didn’t know she was going to (present the jumper) so it was very special for ‘Ugez’ (Ugle) to do that. She was one of the first people who welcomed me into the club when I first got there, and she is such a positive, happy person around the club,” she said.

“We have become quite good friends over the past year, so it was very special for her to be able to do that."

As well as Ugle, Gardner has also learnt from other senior members of the team as she works towards developing her role as a key-position player in the Bombers’ backline.

“I look up to our captain ‘G’ (Georgia Nanscawen) a lot. She played hockey for Australia, so I think that’s pretty cool,” she said.

"'Sim’ (Simone Nalder) is someone who has taken me under her wing a lot as well. I knew her from Darebin and we did a few running sessions together during COVID. She has a lot of leadership experience, so she has been able to guide me a lot with that as well.”

Looking towards the rest of the year, Gardner has aspirations of being drafted to the AFLW, however, after the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID, she wants to enjoy being able to play footy again.

“I’d love to get to the AFLW eventually, but I think after not being able to play footy for the past year, I just want to enjoy playing footy and enjoy being at Essendon,” she said.

“If I can play every game in the VFLW, that would be very special.”

Gardner and the VFLW Bombers will take on the Casey Demons in their round two match at Casey Fields on Saturday at 1pm.