Collingwood AFLW coach Sam Wright will step down after the final-round match against Essendon on Sunday, ending his three-season tenure. The Magpies have won just one of 11 games this season and sit on the bottom of the ladder. Captain Ruby Schleicher has already announced she is leaving the club, and other players are reportedly considering departures. Players and staff are said to be frustrated with list management, development coaching and medical treatment. Wright said he was proud of his time at the club and that Collingwood remains committed to the AFLW program.
Essendon has decided not to renew AFLW coach Natalie Wood's contract after a one-win season. The club told her of the decision after Sunday's 3.7 (25) to 3.2 (20) loss to Hawthorn. Wood will coach the remaining round against Collingwood at Windy Hill. Essendon chief executive Tim Roberts thanked Wood for setting the club's standards and culture since 2022. The club will now search for a new AFLW coach.
Former AFLW player and coach Lauren Arnell has criticised Collingwood's standard of play after the Magpies failed to kick a goal in a 48-point loss to Port Adelaide. Arnell said coaches have a responsibility to put on a show and grow the game. She rejected the club's stance on an independent review and said the mood among players suggests a wider movement during the coming trade period. Captain Ruby Schleicher is set to leave the club at season's end for West Coast.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Western Jets player Tayla Olivieri is hoping to be selected on an AFLW list at the end of the year. She started playing football at 14, after joining her friends. Olivieri has since aimed to play at a higher level and represented Vic Metro at the under-18 national championships this year. She was also invited to the AFLW state combine, where she spoke with several clubs. She said Keilor had a major impact on her career and that she will keep working on her game before the draft.
The Western Bulldogs have qualified for the AFLW finals for the first time since 2022. The club finished 2023 as wooden spooners after winning just one game. A review led to new coaching and football leadership, and the list was rebuilt through trades and draft picks. Under coach Tam Hyett, the club first tightened its defence before working on scoring. Sarah Hartwig has become the club's all-time leading goalkicker, and the Bulldogs will play in the finals in a fortnight.
Collingwood AFLW captain Ruby Schleicher will leave the club at the end of the season to return to Western Australia. Schleicher made the decision after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in a round 9 loss to St Kilda. The West Coast Eagles have reportedly offered her a four-year contract. Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly said the club was disappointed but respected her decision. Schleicher, a two-time All-Australian, has played 82 games for the Magpies since joining in 2017.
GWS Giants midfielder Tilly Lucas-Rodd celebrated their 100th AFLW match with a one-point win over Hawthorn during Pride Round on Sunday. Lucas-Rodd led the team through a Pride flag banner before the game and was carried off the field at full time. The non-binary player said the match was stressful. Teammate Alyce Parker praised their resilience. Lucas-Rodd, who has played for four clubs, said they were grateful to reach the milestone at the Giants.
North Melbourne thrashed Essendon by 52 points at Windy Hill, winning 12.13 (85) to 5.3 (33). Essendon led at quarter time, but the reigning premiers kicked eight goals to two in the second half. Ash Riddell was prolific with 32 disposals, and Tahlia Randall kicked three goals. North Melbourne's 9-1 record keeps it on track for the minor premiership. Elsewhere, Sydney beat Collingwood 12.8 (80) to 4.5 (29), and GWS beat Hawthorn 7.13 (55) to 7.12 (54).
Geelong beat West Coast by 53 points in Perth, with Georgie Prespakis at her best with 39 disposals. In Adelaide, the Crows ended Gold Coast's six-game winning run and moved back into the finals frame. Maddi Newman was injured twice during the match. The Western Bulldogs beat Carlton by 30 points, pushing Gold Coast out of the top four. Brisbane defeated Port Adelaide in Ipswich, ending its five-game losing streak.
Sunshine Coast tattoo artist Mady Peters has designed the Gold Coast Suns' Pride Round guernsey for their AFLW side. The design includes a rainbow football boot, a carabiner and a dolphin holding a non-binary flag. Players Lily Mithen and Katie Lynch worked with Peters on the design, which they said reflects their playful personalities. AFL Players Association head Julia Chiera said more work was needed to improve inclusion in the men's game. The Suns will wear the guernsey for a final time against Adelaide on Saturday.
Melbourne has booked its place in the AFLW finals series after beating Richmond 14.10 (94) to 5.2 (32) at Princes Park in Pride Round. The win followed the Demons' first-ever AFLW loss, to Gold Coast, the previous week. Melbourne dominated the centre contest through Olivia Purcell and Tyla Hanks, who each had more than 30 disposals. Ryleigh Wotherspoon kicked four goals. Melbourne next faces the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval.
The AFLW's second Pride Round weekend features Round 10 matches, with clubs wearing Pride guernseys for home games. GWS non-binary player Tilly Lucas-Rodd will celebrate their 100th game. Lucas-Rodd says the round is a time to use joy and celebration as resistance against rising discrimination. The Friday night opener sees Melbourne play Richmond at IKON Park, with a full Saturday and Sunday program following.
GWS player Tilly Lucas-Rodd says AFLW Pride Round remains important while harmful attitudes towards queer people persist. Lucas-Rodd, who is non-binary, said the joy of the round counters the discrimination queer people can still face in sport. They said online comment sections, including on AFLW posts, show discriminatory views are being voiced more openly. Lucas-Rodd said they have seen how public visibility can help young trans and gender diverse people see a future for themselves. The round also coincides with Lucas-Rodd's 100th game.
North Melbourne beat Fremantle 9.4 (58) to 4.6 (30) at Arden Street, with Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner each kicking a goal. The win puts the Kangaroos on top of the ladder at the end of the round. Carlton defeated Sydney 8.11 (59) to 4.8 (32) at Henson Park. Nell Morris-Dalton kicked four goals, but captain Abbie McKay left the field with an ankle injury. Hawthorn beat Brisbane 9.11 (65) to 6.4 (40), moving into eighth spot.
Gold Coast beat Melbourne by 22 points at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena, winning their sixth straight game and their first over the Demons since the Suns joined the AFLW in 2020. The Suns now sit level with Melbourne at 7-2, with three rounds left before finals. Adelaide beat Richmond by 32 points at Princes Park, moving back into the finals hunt at 4-5. Geelong took top spot with a 63-point win over GWS, though they could drop to second if North Melbourne beat Fremantle on Sunday.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
St Kilda beat Collingwood by two points in Nick Dal Santo's final game as the AFLW team's coach. The 5.9 (39) to 5.7 (37) win at Moorabbin Oval was the Saints' first of the season and ended an 11-match losing streak. The side kicked five goals in the second half after trailing at the main break. Dal Santo announced on Friday that he was standing down after five years, finishing with a 23-39 win-loss record.
The Western Bulldogs beat Essendon by 43 points on Friday night at Whitten Oval, winning 10.5 (65) to 2.10 (22). The win was their seventh of the season. Essendon started well, with Emily Gough kicking an early goal, but the Bulldogs responded with five unanswered goals. Sarah Hartwig kicked a career-high four goals for the home side. The Bulldogs next face Carlton, Melbourne and Geelong, while Essendon plays North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Collingwood.
A new theatrical production, Strong is the New Pretty, debuts at Geelong Arts Centre, celebrating the resilience of Australian women who championed the creation of the AFLW. Directed by Sarah Giles, the play explores the seven-year campaign to establish a national women's football league, initially met with scepticism. The all-female creative team, including playwright Suzie Miller and composer Clemence Williams, highlights the collaborative spirit and determination behind the league's formation. Miller notes the production's relevance to Geelong, a hub of AFL enthusiasm, and its broader message of equality.
