Essendon’s B-grade side produced one of their most complete performances of the season on Saturday, crushing Research Lower Plenty 20–1 in a dominant display.
From the first pitch, Essendon’s bats were alive, piling on early runs and putting the game well out of reach after a 14-run fourth inning.
Their pitchers backed it up with accuracy and control, holding Research Lower Plenty to just a single run.
It was the kind of game that showcased the talent and grit in the squad, even if the scoreboard hasn’t always gone their way this year.
While the win was a statement, Essendon’s finals hopes are officially over after a season of inconsistent results and narrow losses. Despite that, coach Adam McKelvie said the team’s focus was never solely on the ladder.
“We wanted to focus on momentum and team morale, and play our best game,” McKelvie said after the match.
“Even though it’s been a challenging year and we can’t make finals, which is disappointing, but today we played like a team, got some runs on the board and the overall performance was very good.
McKelvie added that he wouldn’t have changed his approach to the season, despite the mixed results.
“I wouldn’t do anything differently. We’ve trained hard each week, and the players have bought into what we’ve been trying to achieve. Days like today show that hard work pays off.”
The match also gave Essendon’s younger players a chance to shine, with several standout batting performances helping to rack up the 20 runs.
The pitching staff, too, kept their cool and never let the opposition settle.
While the season may be drawing to a close without a finals berth, Essendon’s emphatic win suggests they’re determined to finish on a high.
Match of the Round is chosen in-advance each week and designed to provide coverage of the entire league across the season. It is produced with support from the MWBL’s communications and content partner, The Content Engine.
