Essendon end Natalie Wood’s AFLW coaching tenure
Wood will coach the season finale against Collingwood at Windy Hill before departing, with the Bombers having won just once this season.
Essendon have decided against extending AFLW coach Natalie Wood’s contract, ending her five-season tenure after the club’s final match against Collingwood.
Wood learnt of the decision before Essendon’s five-point defeat by Hawthorn, but players and other coaches were told only after the match. She will stay in charge for the remaining fixture at Windy Hill.
The Bombers have recorded one win this season and just two victories across their past 20 games, a stretch dating back to last year. Wood became Essendon’s inaugural AFLW coach when the club joined the competition in 2022 and took the team into finals in both 2023 and 2024.
Essendon CEO Tim Roberts said the decision had been difficult, but the team’s on-field performance in 2026 had not met the club’s expectations. He said a coaching change was the right move for the program’s next phase and thanked Wood for her contribution.
Wood said she was proud of her work establishing the program and helping players develop, both on and off the field. She thanked the players, coaching group, staff, supporters and her family.
