Maddy Prespakis' first game in red and black impressed the masses, earning her a perfect ten coaches votes, but it's the Round 2 match-up awaiting Essendon that has fans excited.
The former Blue made the switch to Windy Hill after season six, lining up last Saturday night for her childhood club as an inaugural Bomber and is now set to face her former club this weekend.
Prespakis spoke to news.com.auย in the lead up to Sunday's highly anticipated clash, admitting that her debut match in red and black was "special".
โThe first game was just unreal,โ Prespakis said to news.com.au.
โTo get our first win, but even better โ running out in the Essendon jersey for the first time. I put my arm around one of my best friends Georgia Gee and we kind of just smiled at each other and said โHow goodโs thisโ.
โItโs awesome. Not many people get to play for the team they barrack for. It is amazing.
"It had nothing to do with me moving to the club or anything. It just adds that bit of special feeling to it in a way that I do get to pull on the jersey (of the club) I barrack for.
โIt is very special and I definitely donโt take any minute for granted. Being able to wear it for the first time on the weekend was just amazing and I couldnโt wipe the smile off my face. I donโt reckon I slept that night after the game."
Prespakis was just one of several Blues to depart Ikon Park prior to season seven, with Georgia Gee,ย Grace Egan,ย Charlotte Wilson,ย Lauren Brazzaleย andย Courtney Jones also heading for the exit.
The 2020 league best and fairest conceded that some of her former teammates were disappointed by her move to rival Essendon, but said she was embracing the reception awaiting her at North Port Oval.
โI suppose thereโs still a few girls that I did speak to on the phone in terms of my move who were probably disappointed and didnโt really want to speak to me after that,โ Prespakis said.
โIโm sure theyโre still a little bit disappointed but Iโve got massive lifelong friends at that club and I canโt wait to see them. I still talk to a fair few of them everyday and they keep in contact with me and see me as the same person I was before I left.
โProbably going to expect a few boos and maybe a few of them are going to want to tackle me a bit harder but thatโs part of footy and I embrace every part of it, every challenge that comes with any game."
Essendon will take on Carlton on Sunday, September 4 at ETU Stadium, set to get underway at 11:10am AEST.
