COLLINGWOOD AFLW coach Sam Wright has stepped down, informing the playing group on Tuesday morning that this weekend's season-ending fixture against Essendon will be his last in charge.

The club's board is due to meet later this week to discuss the direction of the side's disappointing AFLW program, but Wright – who was contracted for 2027 – made the call himself to step down after its 1-11 campaign.

He will coach this weekend's game against the Bombers – and will do so up against Essendon coach Natalie Wood, who will also leave at season's end – before finishing up his duties.

As revealed by AFL.com.au last month, Collingwood had quietly re-signed Wright for another season – taking him through until 2027 – at the end of last year, though he now departs with a year remaining on that deal.

Wright, a former player at North Melbourne and a former assistant coach with the Kangaroos' successful AFLW side, took the reins as Collingwood's women's coach in 2024 and has guided the side over the last three seasons.

However, the Pies have stalled in that time and have won just five of their past 34 matches leading a host of senior players – including captain Ruby Schleicher – to look for exits to rival clubs.

Schleicher announced last week that she would depart Collingwood at season's end, where she is tipped to take up a four-year offer from West Coast, with a host of teammates expected to join her.

Tarni White, Lauren Butler, Sarah Rowe, Mattea Breed, Bri Davey, Violet Patterson and Imogen Barnett are other senior Magpies who remain uncontracted and have significant rival interest.

Wright's departure from Collingwood now means four AFLW clubs are searching for senior coaches including St Kilda and Essendon, who parted ways with Nick Dal Santo and Natalie Wood respectively earlier this month.

Tasmania, the competition's newest expansion side, is also on the hunt for its inaugural senior coach and is hoping to finalise an appointment for its women's program by Christmas.