Source : the age
Essendon will replace inaugural AFLW coach Natalie Wood next season after informing her that her contract would not be renewed for 2027 after the team’s 1-10 record this season.
Wood was informed on Tuesday about the decision, but players were only told after Sunday’s five-point loss to Hawthorn.
Wood is still planning to coach the final round game next Sunday against fellow strugglers Collingwood.
The Dons will be the third AFLW club seeking a coach, joining St Kilda and expansion club Tasmania Devils.
“The club is not offering me a contract as of next year,” Wood said post game on Sunday.
“It’s been a topic of conversation and a lot of questions with our poor performances this year
“It’s a disappointing end, as clearly I would have liked, like the last couple of years, to have better performances on the field.”
The Dons have struggled with injuries and form this season, but Wood was heartened by the club locking in several future leaders to new contracts but they will look for a new coach.
“We have fallen short of what we wanted on field. We believe a change is the right step,” Essendon chief executive Tim Roberts said.
“Natalie has handled this with real integrity, and her commitment to coaching out the season says a lot about her and how much she cares about the players.
“We thank Natalie for everything she has given the club over five seasons, and we wish her all the best for the next step in her football journey.”
Wood was the first female coach to reach 50 games while leading the team for five seasons since they entered the competition.
“[I] just continued on with the week as normal,” Wood said.
“We had two amazing players in Alex Morcom and Maddi Gay having their 50th and 75th game today, so really important celebrations, and we also had Amelia Radford announce her retirement.
“I would prefer no one ever knows, and I’d just disappear off into the sunset without any discussion or interview, but I was particularly aware this week of not wanting to get in the way of those three players.
“We really wanted to beat Hawthorn today. I thought we put up a really good fight, it was an ugly game of footy, tricky conditions. But always forefront of my mind is playing group first – so I thought it was best to hold off until today.
“Aysha (Ward, AFLW general manager) is heavily pregnant and is going on leave in two or three weeks, so I think the club is keen on getting a start in searching for their new coach.”
Wood said it was hard leading the AFLW side while Essendon as a club has faced so many leadership changes in recent seasons.
“Am I disappointed it’s fallen out this way? It depends how narrow of a view I have of it. Sometimes,” Wood said.
“I remember in my job interview, we were discussing about the wants of the role. [At the time], no female coach had lasted longer than two years, and I was not wanting to step into a senior coaching role without being well prepared and supported to have a career that’s longer than two years,” Wood said.
“To be the first female coach to coach 50 games, I’m really proud of that. To build a team from ground-up, as one of the last expansion teams and the season coming forward, it was a mad rush.
“At the same time, the club’s had a lot of instability. There’s been four CEOs, three presidents, three men’s senior captains and three senior coaches, so to build a culture within a program while the instability of the club – and it’s in a good spot now – it’s been hard at times while there’s been so much change in structure and leadership.
“When I look back to the start of the season and we had so many players sign long-term contracts, players who are really important to the program going forward – we’ve built a culture and place where players really want to be. I’ve done something right.”
The Hawks scored a vital win in their quest to make the top eight, winning by five points in rain-soaked conditions at the club’s new base in Dingley.
The Bombers were brave but couldn’t find the last goal they needed to get the win.
With AAP
Two-time reigning AFLW premiers North Melbourne have fought past a stern challenge from Adelaide to win by nine points and return to the top of the ladder.
The Crows conceded the first two goals in scrappy, wet conditions at North Hobart Oval but kept North goalless in the second term, then kicked two majors to lead by three at halftime.
Adelaide were up by a point at the final change but couldn’t hold on as North overran the Crows late to win 5.8 (38) to 4.5 (29).
Kangaroos stars Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell had 32 disposals apiece, while Erika O’Shea had 26 and 16 intercepts.
Crows Ebony Marinoff (30 disposals) and Chloe Bown (22) were busy and Christina Leuzzi kicked two goals.
Essendon will replace inaugural AFLW coach Natalie Wood next season after informing her that her contract would not be renewed for 2027 after the team’s 1-10 record this season.
Wood was informed on Tuesday about the decision, but players were only told after Sunday’s five-point loss to Hawthorn.
Wood is still planning to coach the final round game next Sunday against fellow strugglers Collingwood.
The Dons will be the third AFLW club seeking a coach, joining St Kilda and expansion club Tasmania Devils.
Five-goal Sydney star Chloe Molloy has exploded against West Coast to deliver a 22-point victory that seals a finals berth and keeps the Swans in touch with the top four.
Molloy’s terrific bag of five, including three final-term majors, proved the difference at Henson Park as Colin O’Riordan’s Sydney prevailed 12.6 (78) to 8.8 (56).
“Colin challenged us at the start of the week to seize the moment,” Molloy told Fox Footy.
“Sometimes you can shy away from the bigger moments and an opportunity to lock in the finals.
Gold Coast coach Rhyce Shaw was surprised and frustrated at the circumstances around Dekota Baron’s removal from their narrow AFLW win over Richmond.
But Shaw was also adamant that player welfare must come first.
Baron, a Rising Star nominee this season, was floored by a nasty collision with Tigers opponent Montana McKinnon in the first quarter of Saturday’s match on the Gold Coast.
Baron’s head cannoned into McKinnon’s hip. After initially being cleared by doctors to keep playing, the ARC (AFL review centre) intervened and ruled that she needed a head injury assessment.
Melbourne are closing on a AFLW top-four berth after grinding their way to a massive win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
In wet conditions which hit Victoria hard this weekend – there were fears the game might be delayed because of lightning – the Demons beat the Bulldogs 5.7 (37) to 2.8 (20) at Whitten Oval.
Melbourne are third ahead of next weekend’s trip to Adelaide, while Gold Coast’s narrow win earlier on Saturday meant the Bulldogs dropped to fifth.
The Bulldogs now have another big game on Friday night in Geelong against the Cats, who are on a 10-game winning streak. Star Bulldog Isabelle Pritchard also finished Saturday’s game on the bench with a knee injury.
The Bulldogs did not kick a goal from 15 minutes into the first term until seven minutes into the last.
Geelong have secured an AFLW qualifying final at “our house” with a 30-point win that also put a massive hole in Fremantle’s top-eight hopes.
There could be major injury ramifications out of Saturday’s physical clash at GMHBA Stadium, which the Cats won 9.10 (64) to 5.4 (34).
A heavy collision early in the last quarter put Geelong’s Rachel Kearns out of the game, while Fremantle player Noa McNaughton needed help from two trainers when she also went off in the final term with an ankle injury.
Geelong forward Chantal Mason suffered an ugly cut to her face in a marking contest. Fremantle’s Aoife Healy, Aisling McCarthy and Kiara Bowers, plus Cats player Aishling Moloney all needed injury treatment during the game.
Brisbane had successive wins for the first time in their tough season, mauling home side St Kilda by 52 points at RSEA Park on Saturday.
The Lions’ 11.9 (75) to 3.5 (23) win ended a tough few days for the Saints under interim coach Matt Brewer.
He dropped Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Maya Louvel-Finn for not meeting team standards.
Tyanna Smith’s second goal reduced the margin to 13 points at halftime and the Saints looked a chance. But they only managed two behinds in the second half as the Lions took control.
