Star midfielder Madison Prespakis suffered a heartbreaking injury as Essendon’s finals hoodoo continued in a 10-point AFLW elimination final loss to Fremantle.

The Bombers entered Saturday’s match in front of 4,934 fans at Fremantle Oval under enormous pressure to win the club’s first final since 2004.

The absence of skipper Bonnie Toogood (ankle) and ruck Steph Wales (ACL) made their challenge difficult, and it became even more difficult when Prespakis injured his hip while taking a regulation mark at start of the second quarter.

Prespakis struggled to walk as she left the field.

She bravely returned later in the term, but only lasted 15 seconds before limping away for good.

Despite losing Prespakis, Essendon refused to give up and went into the final change with a four-point advantage.

Orlagh Lally scored a running goal to restore Fremantle’s lead early last season, and Gabby O’Sullivan scored the sealer with less than four minutes remaining when she ran through two opponents and finished the work at 50 m.

The 5.6 (36) to 4.2 (26) victory propels Fremantle into a knockout semi-final against the Crows in Adelaide next week, while Essendon’s season is over.

Fremantle ruck Mim Strom feasted with 56 hits, 11 clearances, 26 possessions, 441 yards gained and a goal in a dominant performance.

Essendon’s makeshift ruck pair of Matilda Dyke (17 hits) and Sophie Alexander (four hits) were powerless to stop Strom.

Georgia Nanscawen (20 possessions, seven clearances) did her best to lift Essendon, but Prespakis’ absence proved too much to overcome.

Fremantle suffered a late blow when star defender Ash Brazill was ruled out with the ankle injury she suffered several weeks ago.

It was all about efficiency in the first quarter for Essendon.

The inside 50 count was 7-2 in Fremantle’s favor after nine minutes, but Essendon’s two entries resulted in goals for Amber Clarke and Emily Gough.

Prespakis’ injury proved to be a turning point.

Hayley Miller intercepted a wayward Essendon kick a minute later to start Fremantle’s first major.

And when Strom monstrous Alexander in the scrum to kick Fremantle’s second goal in the dying moments of the first half, the Dockers had a three-point lead.

Strom had 30 hits and 14 disposals to his name by halftime, and things looked bleak for the Bombers when Airlie Runnalls scored an open goal early in the third quarter to extend the lead to 10 points.

But Essendon refused to give in and, against all odds, took a four-point lead after three quarters thanks to goals from Brooke Walker and Daria Bannister.

Fremantle’s Amy Mulholland was forced off early last season after landing on her neck and back as she took a brave mark.

The Dockers, driven by their home supporters, scored the only two goals of the last quarter with the help of the breeze to snatch victory.

PAA