AFLW: Dreamtime clash in Darwin more than a game for Tigers and Bombers

They occupied either end of the plane on the trip up to the Northern Territory, but after touching down in Darwin, Essendon and Richmond were united ahead of a history-making AFLW clash.

Essendon sat at the front of the plane. Richmond occupied the back.

But as soon as the two clubs touched down in Darwin, they were united by the Dreamtime spirit.

The Tigers and Bombers arrived at 12:30pm on Thursday in anticipation of the first AFLW match in the Northern Territory.

Players from both clubs were immediately ferried to local schools to conduct footy clinics side-by-side as students picked whether to take home a Richmond or Essendon poster. Regardless, autographs were popular.

In the afternoon, the two clubs came together for a traditional saltwater welcoming ceremony at the Darwin waterfront.

Then in the evening, they headed out to local female football clubs to inspire the next generation of AFLW stars.

The Tigers and Bombers will make history this weekend. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Richmond and Essendon have forged a fierce rivalry in the men’s competition across 20 years of Dreamtime clashes, a tradition that extended to the AFLW two years ago.

Saturday night will see them clash for the third time with both clubs boasting one win apiece. But until the ball is bounced, the Tigers and Bombers know that the Dreamtime clash in Darwin is more than a game.

“It’s pretty unique,” Tigers young gun Ellie McKenzie said. “But it’s part of the AFLW.

“We have a very connected community. We always want to grow it. But when we cross that white line, it’ll be on.

“It’s a piece of history. I’ve been to a few men’s Dreamtime games. It’s always a special occasion.

“To be able to be a part of it and being up in Darwin which is almost the home of Indigenous footy, it adds another layer to the occasion. We’re really excited.”

Almost 40 per cent of registered football players in the Northern Territory are women and girls, double the national average.

McKenzie hopes Saturday’s clash can grow that number even further.

“The school I went to, we had all girls in our clinic,” McKenzie said. “A lot of them already play footy.

“They wouldn’t know a time when women haven’t played footy at the highest level. I’m still one of the younger players on our team and I still had to play with the boys.”

Essendon (8th) can keep its finals hopes alive with a win while Richmond (5th), remains in the hunt for the top four, adding an extra layer of significance to the clash.

“The game means so much to this round but it also means a lot for us as a team,” Bombers ruck Steph Wales said. “We’re going to put our best foot forward. There’s a lot weighing on this game.”

Wales, who’s never been to the Northern Territory, said that Essendon has been preparing to play in the extreme heat through a combination of saunas and heat exposure in the club’s altitude room.

Both clubs have scheduled captain’s runs at TIO Stadium on Friday. Richmond has named captain Katie Brennan and will give her every chance to play after suffering an ankle injury last week.

Originally published as AFLW: Dreamtime clash in Darwin more than a game for Tigers and Bombers