Essendon recruit and Narrogin product Matilda Dyke flying high with Bombers in top eight of AFLW competition

Seven rounds into her first AFLW season Essendon’s Matilda Dyke says she is enjoying every minute playing at the games highest level as the club sets its sights on playing finals in 2023.

The Bombers were impressive 17-point winners against Richmond on Saturday in the Indigenous Round with the Narrogin-raised Dyke collecting 11 disposals, two marks, three tackles and one goal assist.

“I’m really excited for the rest of the season and seeing what we can do together as a team,” she said.

It’s so special that I can say I’ve come from Narrogin and it’s exciting for my family, the Grahams have a strong footy tie in Narrogin and the WAFL as well and I’d like to extend my thanks to the Narogin community

Dykes’ family is well represented in the WAFL with cousins Ed Graham playing for South Fremantle, Thomas Graham playing for East Perth and George and Dave Graham featuring for Claremont.

The dominant Dons display in the Dreamtime game at Ikon Park helped Dyke’s side rise to fifth on the ladder, one win behind second and third-placed teams North Melbourne and Narrm.

Saturday’s win marks two on the trot for Essendon, who defeated Geelong in round six by 10 points.

“We had a really great win in Warrnambool against Geelong which put us back into the eight,” she said.

“It was the country round and it was really reminiscent of country footy, nothing beats country footy.”

Playing three seasons for Claremont in the WAFL primed Dyke for playing at the national level and the formidable 181cm utility soon found a home in Essendon.

“It’s an awesome group of girls and a really great bunch of staff,” she said.

“They’ve done such an amazing job on picking up girls for their personality, the passion is there and I’ve had no problems at all slotting in with the team.

“Essendon is a richly cultured club, there’s so much history and I think about it every day, I’m so lucky that Essendon was the club that wanted me.”

With a maiden finals campaign firmly in sight the Bombers tackled West Coast in round eight on Sunday.