Essendon’s AFLW list concerns and targets ahead of crucial off-season

Could we see more off-season drama between Essendon and Hawthorn? This move would certainly amplify the rivalry in the AFLW space — and it’s exactly what the Bombers need.

Essendon’s ability to challenge for finals again next season hinges on addressing key list gaps following a season plagued by injuries and poor form.

The Bombers have tumbled down the ladder after eight straight losses, including heavy defeats to the Western Bulldogs (57 points), St Kilda (52) and Fremantle (48), kicking just one goal in each.

Their struggles have exposed list deficiencies, which were compounded by key departures during last year’s trade period.

Little was made of Essendon’s off-season when it lost former No.4 draft pick Amber Clarke (to St Kilda), No.8 Paige Scott (Richmond), key defender Ash Van Loon (Sydney) and a failed trade for Richmond small forward Emilia Yassir. That’s three best 21 players gone in one off-season and no established replacements arriving.

The circumstance surrounding Scott’s departure was a curious list management decision after Essendon didn’t strike a deal with Richmond, which on paper seemed straight-forward considering Yassir wanted to join. In the end, no trade was done and Scott walked to the draft where they eventually joined the Tigers anyway and Yassir re-signed with Richmond.

With Scott and Clarke out of the forward line, the Bombers have lacked goal-scoring options this season, ranked bottom three in the league for points scored as they have relied too heavily on co-captain Bonnie Toogood and Daria Bannister.

Clarke and Scott’s ability to also push up into the midfield and provide a point of difference with their speed and power has also been sorely missed, while Van Loon was the club’s No.1 defender in 2024, often taking the opposition’s best forward. Her departure has left a huge hole in defence, where they have leaked the sixth-most scores to opposition this season.

The form of a number of key players has been a major concern for most of the year. Maddy Prespakis has continued to rack up big numbers, averaging 23.5 disposals but career-lows in kicking efficiency (41.1 per cent) and disposal efficiency (52.7) have limited her impact on games.

Tall defender Brooke Brown has also struggled with lower body injuries over the past two seasons and in her six games has looked a shadow of the player who used to provide run and carry off halfback.

Georgia Gee was a high-profile recruit from Carlton but hasn’t quite produced the same level at Essendon, however, at 25 still has huge upside with her elite ball use and footy smarts. The challenge for the Bombers is how to get the ball into her hands more often.

Coach Natalie Wood’s cause also hasn’t been helped by a long injury list, headlined by the loss of emerging tall Emily Gough to a torn ACL. Gough’s injury has been underrated, with the 180cm 19-year-old proving she can play good footy at both ends in her first season last year. Essendon has also been without All-Australian Maddie Gay (strained ACL) for most of the season, Amelia Radford (ACL, inactive), Brooke Walker (ACL), Sophie Van de Heuvel (PCL) and Grace Belloni (leg) due to serious injuries at various stages.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Injury replacement Maggie MacLachlan has been a great pick-up and should earn another contract, with her ability to play a variety of roles and hit the scoreboard a huge win. Second-year utility Amy Gaylor has gone from strength to strength and is fast becoming one of the club’s most important players with her footy IQ, elite skills and versatility to be a kind of ‘Ms Fix It’ and last year’s No.9 draft pick Belloni looks a star of the future as a hybrid forward who can play midfield and possesses great footy smarts and ball-winning ability.

I’m a big fan of Chloe Adams and her clean hands, elite ball use on both sides and high work ethic, while an injury-free Gay will be like a new recruit and Holly Ridewood has shown great signs in her debut season.

The quicker-than-expected return of ruck Steph Wales from a torn ACL has also been one of the stories of the year and she’ll be even better next year with a full pre-season under her belt.

LIST NEEDS

While the Bombers have some good players across all lines – Gay and Georgia Clarke down back, Prespakis, Georgia Nanscawen, Steph Cain and Wales in the midfield, and Toogood, Gee and Bannister up forward, their lack of depth and top-end talent has been exposed. The list has a number of holes that need addressing if they’re to challenge for finals again next year, starting with an inside/outside midfielder who can win their own ball but also use their speed and power to explode from stoppage.

A small forward with goal sense and high pressure is another area of need, as is another key forward to help ease the reliance on Toogood and Alexander, who has had a quiet season and will turn 33 in May, and another key defender to help Ellyse Gamble.

TRADE TARGETS

There have been whispers that Aine McDonagh is open to a move away from Hawthorn and the Irishwoman would be an ideal fit. Her electric speed, one-on-one ability and class in front of goal would provide Essendon with a very dangerous one-two punch with Toogood, who can play as the midfield-forward connector up high and McDonagh deep.

Aine McDonagh gets the Hawks off to a flyer 🔥#AFLWDonsHawkspic.twitter.com/3n91qmSU2B

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 25, 2025

Melbourne’s Eliza McNamara can add that speed and power as an inside/outside midfielder, Richmond’s Grace Egan is another option as an in and under player who can feed it to Prespakis and Gaylor, and Carlton midfielder Maddy Guerin is a powerful midfielder with the exceptional speed and power the Bombers need.

Former No.5 draft pick Alyssia Pisano has struggled to lock down a spot in Melbourne’s forward 50 and would be a nice addition to replace Clarke and Scott. Her elite goal sense and finishing skills would add more potency to an Essendon forward line that struggled to score.

UNTOUCHABLES

Toogood, Cain, Gough, Prespakis, Gaylor, Nanscawen, Gay, Belloni, Ridewood, Adams and Wales.

TRADE BAIT

Brooke Brown is contracted until the end of 2026 but has struggled to regain the form that saw her become a weapon across halfback. Could a fresh start be beneficial for both player and club? Teams looking for defensive reinforcements, including Collingwood, Richmond, Sydney and West Coast could have a look.

Sophie Van de Heuvel is another one who’s been unlucky with injury over the last two years but started this season really well, showing her value as a halfback. She could hold appeal for a team keen to bolster its ball use off halfback, like Adelaide, Sydney, Richmond and Fremantle.

Defender Mia Busch has been a handy role player this season and is a tough competitor but could she be someone who can help the Bombers bring in players during the trade period? She would appeal to teams looking for a medium defender with over 30 games experience, like Hawthorn, Richmond and Collingwood.

CRYSTAL BALL

Essendon still has one of the most skilled lists in AFLW, so the talent is there to bounce back into finals contention next season but its success will hinge on its ability to add more scoring power, midfield depth and overall speed. It will also be a big off-season for the big-name players who have been well below their best, they hold the key as too much has been left to too few in 2025.

Originally published as Essendon’s AFLW list concerns and targets ahead of crucial off-season