Sam Wright to step down as Collingwood AFLW coach after final round

Sam Wright will leave his job as Collingwood's AFLW coach after the final-round match against Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday, ABC News reports. The club confirmed the move in an announcement titled "Wright to step down as AFLW Senior Coach" on its official site.

Wright coached the Magpies' AFLW program for three seasons. Earlier this month he had signed a one-year contract extension that would have kept him in the role until the end of 2027, according to AFL.com.au.

The results explain part of the timing. Collingwood has recorded one win from 11 games. That leaves it on the bottom of the AFLW ladder, level with Essendon and St Kilda. The ladder ranks teams by wins, and percentage (points scored as a share of points conceded) decides teams that finish level.

The Magpies have not played finals since 2022. That year they finished sixth in the regular season and reached the semifinals, the round before the grand final. Since then they have finished outside the top 10 in every season. Finals is the September series that decides the premiership.

Sunday's game will also be the last for Essendon coach Natalie Wood. St Kilda, meanwhile, is looking for a replacement for its AFLW coach, Nick Dal Santo.

Players are on the move too. Captain Ruby Schleicher has announced she will leave Collingwood to return to Western Australia. Tarni White, Lauren Butler, Bri Davey, Sarah Rowe and Mattea Breed are all out of contract. Vice-captain Jordyn Allen is under contract but is expected to look for other opportunities.

Collingwood now joins the group of AFLW clubs searching for a new coach. Wright's final game will be at Windy Hill, where the Magpies and Bombers meet to close the home-and-away season. The result will not change where Collingwood finishes on the ladder, but it will be the last time this group runs out under Wright.