State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Essendon v Footscray, Second Elimination Final - Sunday, September 3, 2.40pm, Fortburn Stadium
Forward Tom Boyd was the focal point in attack with four goals, including the opening two goals of the match, in Footscray's gutsy five-point elimination final win.
The 22-year-old, who was playing his third successive game since taking a break to focus on his mental health, registered his first goal with a long-range set shot from about 65m that was aided by the strong breeze.
Boyd (13 disposals, four marks) kicked his second a few minutes later with an instinctive left-foot snap, before adding a goal in each of the third and fourth terms.
Tough nut Clay Smith (19 disposals) lifted his intensity as the game went on. He kicked two third-quarter goals and then played a midfield role in the final term to great effect.
Retiring defender Matthew Boyd drifted forward late in the first term to kick a left-foot goal and ended with a team-high 24 touches and three marks, while Lukas Webb (18 disposals) wasn't far behind.
The Bulldogs do battle with Port Melbourne in a semi-final next Sunday, September 10.