As Essendon prepare to enter the AFLW arena for the first time, they do so arguably as well prepared as any expansion club to date.
With their first game in the league selling out so fast the league were forced to move the game from North Port Oval to Marvel Stadium, Essendon have already laid a marker down in the seventh edition of the competition.
Co-captain Bonnie Toogood is a key pillar to what the Bombers have built and along with a number of star recruits and a very successful VFLW program, the red and the black could be set to make an immediate impact.
Speaking toย Zero Hanger,ย Toogood said that the chance to open the clubs women's program on such a grand stage is an honour and a "pinch yourself moment."
"I think it's a huge move," Toogood said.
"Us two clubs that haven't had an AFLW fanbase or fans have had to go and support another club for the women's. Now we are getting those fans back to the club and for Essendon top hopefully fill this place (Marvel Stadium) out with the Essendon faithful to get around our girls and our first game.
"It's huge, we are going to have a lot of firsts this season but that first game to be walking up that race onto Marvel Stadium, it's going to be a pinch yourself moment. Not just for us players but for the fans who get to be here and witness a huge moment for the two clubs."
The Bombers VFLW program ran through the 2022 season undefeated and racked up a percentage of 362.4%.
An incredible feat that the club has been keen to capitalise on with 10 members of the VFLW squad putting pen to paper with the Bombers for season seven.
Toogood explained how the club embraced the successful campaign and used it to bond quickly before Round 1.
"That first week after they'd won the grand final we really harnessed that positivity and enthusiasm around the club," Toogood said.
"It was such an amazing milestone for them. Premierships don't come around often at any level so we definitely used that enthusiasm and excitement.
"As I guess a core group of AFLW girls that were at existing clubs, it's helping sharing that knowledge of what the intensity looks like, how hard do we hit and it's kind of getting people up to speed about what that looks like.
"That's been how we've tried to get that connection, through that sharing of knowledge and trying to make each other better. Working really hard in one-on-ones and making sure we're beating each other and that's how we are getting each other to the level.
The newly appointed co-captain will sure duties with former Docker Steph Caine for the new season, an honour Toogood said she was caught off guard by.
The former Bulldog explained the moment she was informed she would be leading the team out for its first ever game.
"I just went into a meeting with "Woody" (Natalie Wood) and we were planning on doing vision," Toogood detailed.
"I was just none the wiser and at the end she goes "you'll be co-captaining with Steph". I've been saying that I went "Oh my gosh, that's amazing", but I actually went silent. I was in a fair bit of shock if I'm honest.
"I didn't think that it would come true that I would be standing here co-captain of the Essendon Football Club. I'm super excited, it's a huge honour to lead this exciting group, this program and this club."
Building a good culture is integral to building any form of success at football clubs. It can take years and years to ingrain the right behaviours and develop a winning environment.
Essendon haven't had that opportunity over the years but aren't wasting any time in putting the pieces in place and fast-tracking the process as efficiently as they can. Embracing what has come before and the culture that has stood at the club over the past century and a half and building something new is a balance that the women's program is forming their culture on.
Toogood explained how the challenge of building something new excited her and explained how the Bombers are using the array of journeys that led everyone to The Hangar to their advantage.
"It's been a challenge, very different to what I've experienced at the Dogs," said the 24-year-old.
"The culture was already built and formed where as here we are kind of figuring it all out and Steph's been huge in driving that. It's all been about connection. We've had a lot of people come in from different spaces of football and it's coming in and using all of that knowledge to connect us and drive us in the one direction.
"It's been a really enjoyable process and something I'm really passionate about. I think it's important you're vulnerable with your teammates and connecting off the field. You're then more likely to put your body on the line for one another."
Toogood went on to explain how the focus of what the Bombers have been building has been centred around what it means to wear the red and black and represent the 150-year-old club.
"We've done a lot about "what is it to be an Essendon person". That's what we're really focussed on," Toogood explained.
"What that looks like and making sure we are living the values of the club. We didn't have to come in and reinvent anything we're still walking into a football club that has a culture that's been there."
