‘Don’t hate me’: Why Prespakis left the Blues for arch-rival Essendon
Star Essendon on-baller Maddy Prespakis says facing her old side when the Bombers play Carlton on Sunday will be “a spicy game”, but it’s one she’s looking forward to.
“I’m still friends with some of the girls from Carlton, so it’d be good to see them and play against them… Obviously I haven’t seen them really since [leaving the Blues] and it’d be nice to be able to see them and, yeah, hopefully [a] few of them don’t hate me anymore,” Prespakis told The Age.
Bomber Maddy Prespakis, a childhood Essendon fan, celebrates a goal.Credit:AFL Photos
The 21-year-old was a significant recruit for Essendon’s inaugural side. She’s already established herself as one of the biggest names in the competition, winning the 2020 league best-and-fairest award, the 2019 rising star in her first year, and becoming a three-time club best and fairest and two-time All-Australian at the Blues.
She’s had an immediate impact at her new club, too. Against fellow expansion team Hawthorn in round one, she finished with 26 disposals, six clearances and a goal, and was integral in winning the ball and driving it forward.
Much has been said about the star midfielder choosing to leave Carlton for the club she grew up supporting. Her childhood idols were James Hird and Jobe Watson.
She says walking into ‘The Hangar’ for the first time as a Bomber was “a pinch myself kind of moment”.
“I’m only 21, so I’d like to think I’ve got a long career ahead of me and I want to get better as time goes on, and make a really good name for myself.”
“Some would say I probably couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, and still to this day, I kind of can’t,” she added.
That pure passion was evident as she tugged at her jumper following her first goal for the Bombers, and after the win against the Hawks, telling Channel Seven: “It’s been a dream come true to play for Essendon and I just look down at this jumper and I feel very privileged.”
However, Prespakis says playing at her childhood club is not why she made the switch, which she instead put down to needing “a fresh start”.
“To get better as a person and player, I had to make the move and start fresh, and that’s why I did it… If I was to stay at Carlton, it would have been very much so because I love the girls and I’ve had a lot of good friends there and still do…but I think I had to expand my wings a little bit,” she said.
Madison Prespakis won the 2020 league best and fairest. Credit:AFL Photos
“I’m only 21, so I’d like to think I’ve got a long career ahead of me and I want to get better as time goes on, and make a really good name for myself.”
When Prespakis did make the switch from the Blues to the Dons, many Carlton fans were critical of the move on social media. But she says she’s not bothered by outside noise or nervous to face her old fan base.
“As an athlete, you kind of get used to it when you get booed on the sideline… I mean, that’s part of the game and I suppose any player that moves kind cops a little bit of that from their old opposition, but that’s just how it’s always going to be,” she said.
“When I rang all the girls to let them know I was leaving, obviously [there were] a few disappointed girls, and girls that probably didn’t want to speak to me, and I’m sure that that’s how some of the fans feel. So yeah, it’s probably still a little bit fresh for them.
“They’ll get over it as time goes on.
“And for me, I don’t really see that pressure because the people I have to listen to at the end of the day are obviously my coaches, my player manager, and myself, and the other people – they can always say what they want to say, but at the end of the day, it’s kind of not their business.”
Essendon play Carlton at ETU Stadium (North Port Oval) on Sunday.
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