ESSENDON has informed its AFLW coach Natalie Wood that it will not be renewing her contract beyond this season.

Wood was informed by the Bombers this week that the 2026 season would be her last at the club, with players then told immediately after Sunday's defeat to Hawthorn.

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Wood wanted to coach Sunday's game, and will also take charge of next week's season-ending fixture against Collingwood, before departing her role.

It comes after the side's disappointing 1-10 season to date, which will finish with next week's game against the Pies.

Essendon will now become the third AFLW side to be assessing the landscape for a new full-time senior coach heading into 2027, alongside St Kilda and new expansion club Tasmania.

Wood was the Bombers' inaugural AFLW coach when the club entered the competition in 2022 and guided the side to finals campaigns in 2023 and 2024.

Speaking to AFL.com.au immediately after telling the players, an emotional Wood said she had chosen to not immediately publicise the contract decision deliberately.

"I was made aware on Tuesday, in the middle of the day, we had a review day on Tuesday. Just continued on with the week as normal. 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," Wood said.

"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. Also the game – 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, 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 revealed she'd considered stepping away mid-season as the losses continued to mount.

"I asked myself that question a couple of times, would it be best for the players if I didn't coach out and they had a fresh start, but at the end of the day, we set a plan out. In patches, we've been able to deliver on that plan in patches – not enough," she said. 

"I keep playing my role, and now the club has a responsibility to the playing group to make sure everything's reviewed. They've clearly made a decision on my role, but in terms of a structure and how we move forward and how we set up the players in the off-season and pre-season. I trust they will, but I hope they use this as an opportunity to have a really good look at our structure.

"Of all the things I am and I'm not, one of the things is I have high integrity and work ethic, so I've got a job to do, and I'll keep going about it (and finish the season)."

Wood has coached Essendon for five seasons, and briefly reflected on the legacy she will leave behind.

"Am I disappointed it's fallen out this way? It depends how narrow of a view I have of it. Sometimes. I think other times – 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."

- with Sarah Black