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.au in the lead up to Sunday's highly anticipated clash, admitting that her debut match in red and black was "special".
“The first game was just unreal,” Prespakis said to news.com.au.
“To get our first win, but even better — 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 ‘How good’s this’.
“It’s 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.
“It is very special and I definitely don’t take any minute for granted. Being able to wear it for the first time on the weekend was just amazing and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I don’t 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, Grace Egan, Charlotte Wilson, Lauren Brazzale and 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.
“I suppose there’s still a few girls that I did speak to on the phone in terms of my move who were probably disappointed and didn’t really want to speak to me after that,” Prespakis said.
“I’m sure they’re still a little bit disappointed but I’ve got massive lifelong friends at that club and I can’t 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.
“Probably going to expect a few boos and maybe a few of them are going to want to tackle me a bit harder but that’s 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.
