Coach leaves Magpies job with empty tank and another loss
Departing Collingwood coach Sam Wright conceded he has “no energy left” and had “run out of suggestions” as the Pies finished their dismal 2026 season with just one win and independent review of the struggling women’s program looming.
The Pies faced Essendon on Sunday, who, like them, entered the game with just win to their name and preparing to farewell their senior coach.
But it was the Bombers who got their second win of the year to claim 16th spot on the ladder, overcoming a late scare from the Pies to win by seven points in front of a roaring Windy Hill home crowd and sen coach Natalie Wood off in style.
Collingwood finished the season with a slightly better percentage than St Kilda (also one win), meaning they avoided the wooden spoon 17th. But finishing 17th was little comfort for Wright, who leaves the coaching job with the women’s program at Collingwood mired in uncertainty and mediocrity.
“I just really honest with the girls [pre-match], I’ve got no energy left,” he said after the game.
“I think I’ve given everything that I can to the club and the girls over the last three years. The win, loss [ratio] takes its toll.
“But what I’m really proud of is that I have given it everything.”
Wright said he’d spent a lot of time on his long drives home wondering what he could do to help the team.
“I probably ran out of suggestions, to be honest, and I think whenever you hit that space … you’ve got to look at the priorities in your life. My priority is family at the moment, but the club’s been nothing but supportive, and it [leaving] comes with it some guilt with where the club’s at.
“But I think the girls understand that I’ve given everything that I have.”
A fortnight after CEO Craig Kelly declared the club did not need an independent review of its women’s program, the Pies announced last week announced an “independent external expert” would be involved in a review of the program.
A source familiar with the Collingwood situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Collingwood’s executive and board, following a meeting on Tuesday, decided it was important for an external figure to work with the club on improving its AFLW program.
The Magpies did not offer a timeframe for the review, but are facing pressure following the departure of captain Ruby Schleicher, with several senior players voicing concerns about a lack of improvement and direction in the program.
When asked if he had advocated for there to be a review into the program, Wright said he wasn’t able to get into specifics, but emphasised that he trusted Collingwood’s leadership.
“I think we all know we need to improve,” he said.
In contrast, departing Bombers coach Wood, said she had not run out of energy, despite not being offered a contract.
“Yes, I do definitely [have more to give], and that’s OK,” she said post match.
“The club’s made the decision that it’s time for a fresh start, and I fully respect that.
“I’m still full of energy, but yeah, I’ll rest and recuperate, and you know, see if there’s any opportunities that lie ahead.”
Essendon have not announced an independent external review of their women’s program, but will expand the scope of its annual internal AFLW review.
Wood said she hoped the review would be an opportunity to “zoom out and look at everything”.
Ultimately, Wood hoped to leave the playing group with the knowledge that a coach could develop good relationships with their players while also challenging them.
“My job as a coach, we see the game from a different perspective, my job’s to stand alongside you and walk with you … you do your role, and I’ll do mine,” she said.
“But we’ll push each other, but we’ll do it together.”
Collingwood had a goalless first quarter, trailing in contested possessions, failing to stop Emily Gough and Mia Busch, who piled on the goals for the Bombers.
For a while, it looked like Collingwood might be staring down a goalless game again, but majors to Tarni White and Ash Centra, with a heavily taped nose, saved the Pies.
A soaring goal from captain Bonnie Toogood in the third quarter pushed the Bombers ahead, but Collingwood came back hard in the fourth.
A brilliant pass from captain Lucy Cronin to Irish debutant Ellie Brady followed by a goal cut the margin to nine points with 10 minutes left to play.
Busch countered with a goal, but Imogen Trengove scored a free kick and a 50-metre penalty with five minutes to go. Undeterred by the chorus of boos and jeers from the crowd, Trengove booted converted to cut the margin again.
But after crucial intercepts and tackles, the Bombers held on to win 4.14 (38) to 4.7(31).
“It’s been a tough year, it’s been a bit of a slog, and it has felt like it has gone forever, but I’m proud of us for coming out here today,” Bomber Madison Prespakis told Seven.
“Woody [Natalie Wood] has been my only coach at Essendon,” she added.
“Five years. There was no one here and she said ‘we want you here’. I’ve got a lot of love and respect for Woody and what she has done with the program.
“Set aside the coach and she is a beautiful human. We did this for her, and it has been an honour to be coached by her, and I know she will be in the stands watching us for sure.”
When the siren blared, Essendon players rushed to embrace each other and also farewell veteran Sophie Alexander, who announced her retirement from the AFLW after an 85-game career.
The 33-year-old told teammates ahead of their final game of the season, coincidentally against her former club, Collingwood.
Pies players comforted each other and gathered for a guard of honour for retiring ruck Sabrina Frederick.
All-Victorian top four for the finals
Second Qualifying Final
Geelong Cats v Melbourne
Saturday, 7 November
IKON Park, 1.05pm AEDT
First Qualifying Final
North Melbourne v Carlton
Saturday, 7 November
IKON Park, 4.05pm AEDT
Second Elimination Final
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs
Sunday, 8 November
Henson Park, 1.05pm AEDT
First Elimination Final
Gold Coast SUNS v Hawthorn
Sunday, 8 November
People First Stadium, 3.05pm AEDT/ 2.05pm AEST
The round 12 scores
Captain clattered as Demons tune up for AFLW finals
Melbourne have given themselves a confidence boost ahead of their blockbuster AFLW qualifying final, overcoming Adelaide by 18 points despite an injury concern to star Kate Hore.
At a wet Unley Oval on Sunday, the Demons claimed a third consecutive victory and ended their regular season 10-2 by prevailing 6.11 (47) to 3.11 (29).
But they may have to sweat on midfielder Hore, who was left holding her shoulder after Jemmika Douglas bumped her in the dying minutes of the clash.
Tyla Hanks insists the team’s captain will be fine for next week’s final against the high-flying Geelong, telling the Seven Network the four-time All-Australian is “pretty tough”.
Coach leaves Magpies job with empty tank and another loss
Departing Collingwood coach Sam Wright conceded he has “no energy left” and had “run out of suggestions” as the Pies finished their dismal 2026 season with just one win and independent review of the struggling women’s program looming.
The Pies faced Essendon on Sunday, who, like them, entered the game with just win to their name and preparing to farewell their senior coach.
But it was the Bombers who got their second win of the year to claim 16th spot on the ladder, overcoming a late scare from the Pies to win by seven points in front of a roaring Windy Hill home crowd and sen coach Natalie Wood off in style.
Collingwood finished the season with a slightly better percentage than St Kilda (also one win), meaning they avoided the wooden spoon 17th. But finishing 17th was little comfort for Wright, who leaves the coaching job with the women’s program at Collingwood mired in uncertainty and mediocrity.
Blues make AFLW top four by 0.2 per cent as Suns just win
Carlton looks set to earn a top-four spot by just 0.2 in percentage after Gold Coast’s tight win over GWS on Sunday.
The only way the Blues will fall from the four will be a whopping win by the Sydney Swans against Fremantle later on Sunday at 5pm AEDT – the Swans are on 115.9 per cent heading into that match.
Suns star Charlie Rowbottom kicked a goal with 11 seconds to go to bring her side to 133 per cent, but they couldn’t get another score, so will finish behind the Blues on 133.2 per cent.
Suns coach Rhyce Shaw was nervously looking to his coach’s box after the siren as they double-checked the mathematics, but he was soon told they would miss the four.
Who plays who: The final round fixture
Hawks lock in finals spot as season ends on sour note for Eagles
Hawthorn dominated the Eagles at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday to win by 55 points and lock in a top-eight spot for the third straight season.
The Hawks’ 14.10 (94) to 6.3 (39) win means finals hopes are over for Fremantle and Adelaide before they play on Sunday, locking in the eight finalists for this season, although positions could still change subject to Sunday’s results.
It was a record win for Hawthorn – their highest ever AFLW score as they had two five-goal quarters while the Eagles went goalless.
But it wasn’t just the scoreboard where there was bad news for the hosts.
A scary Saints fan
St Kilda have had a frightful AFLW season, but this fan took things to another level with this Halloween costume at RSEA Park during today’s season-ending game against Port Adelaide.
Full marks for the effort though – it’s as scary as you could find!
McKay takes Blues to win but key player injured ahead of finals
Carlton will be sweating on the fitness of star midfielder Claudia Whitfort, who was taken off in their 6.4 (40) to 5.5 (35) win against Brisbane Lions at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday.
Sophie McKay’s goal with two minutes to play took the Blues to the win and they now face a nervous wait to see if they will be jumped by one of the sides behind them and lose the double-chance in the finals.
Whitfort was ruled out in the first half with a hamstring issue in what could potentially be a hammering for the Blues’ premiership hopes as she’s played a huge role in their finals push.
It soured their comeback victory, where Carlton (9-3) started slowly but scored five of the final six goals to move into fourth position on the ladder.
Roy Ward with AAP
Roos seal another AFLW minor premiership
Jasmine Garner has spearheaded North Melbourne to a third consecutive AFLW minor premiership in a rousing 68-point victory over Richmond.
Knowing a win would make the Kangaroos the first team to top the ladder three straight times, the captain sparkled in her team’s 15.11 (101) to 5.3 (33) thumping at Windy Hill on Saturday.
Her 28 disposals and one goal contribution firmed her position for the league’s best and fairest award, the star midfielder playing an integral role in helping North finish their campaign 11-1.
The Roos will certainly be the team to beat in the finals series as they’ve won their games by an average of 43.2 points and thrashed the second-placed Geelong by 73 points earlier in the year.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
