ESSENDON managed to bring in its main target over the off-season in Adelaide’s Zoe Prowse, while holding on to its first selection at Pick 6. The Bombers finished 14th but rated the athletic tall defender – who can play other roles – highly, and gave up a bounty of mid-draft picks to secure her.

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2025 RECORD: 14th (H&A) | 4-8 | 60.0% | Eliminated: Regular Season
2025 PICKS: 6, 49, 50, 78
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R1 (Essendon), ’26 R4 (Essendon), ’26 R4 (Adelaide)

LIST CHANGES:

IN
Zoe Prowse (trade, Adelaide)

OUT
Brooke Sheridan (delisted), Mia Van Dyke (delisted), Grace Brooker (stepped away), Ellyse Gamble (delisted), Amelie Gladman (delisted), Jess Verbrugge (delisted)

There was not too much to report from the Bombers over the Trade Period with Prowse being the only change coming in. The Bombers have cleared off a further three delistings today on top of the two previous ones.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 6

Retaining Pick 6 is a crucial one for the Bombers who have some great potential in adding a top-end talent to the list. Essendon has been linked to a pair of West Australians with the selection, being West Perth’s Mia Russo and Peel Thunder’s Evie Cowcher. Both add key needs to the Bombers through the midfield and defence respectively, and are past MVP winners and of course, All-Australians.

Russo brings power from the contest and will add the toughness of Madison Prespakis, while Cowcher is a unique addition who complements Essendon’s selection last year in Taya Chambers. Given the Bombers have opted for speed and athleticism in recent times, expect that to continue, and if not already off the board, bids on Sunny Lappin and Alex Neyland could be good shouts.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 49, 50

After that first selection, the Bombers essentially have a couple of darts to throw late in the third round, though it all depends on list numbers and whether they clear off more or go with the minimum two selections. A really good fit would be Central District’s Mikaylah Antony who provides run-and-carry with elite kicking precision.

Readymade forward – who can also roll through the middle – Melissa Anderson would provide immediate relief, with the South Adelaide premiership player more than capable of slotting into a Round 1 squad. Isabelle Creaton and Bree Horne are a pair of athletic defenders, and if the Bombers opt for Russo with the first pick, can sure up their defence with these back-to-back selections.

Among the other athletic options at that stage are Bendigo Pioneers’ Ella Jeffrey, East Fremantle’s Maya Louvel-Finn and Gippsland Power’s Baia Pugh. Given the Bombers picked up Chambers last year, Louvel-Finn has the Sharks ties, as does left-field option and high-upside tall defender, Madison Evans.

The other avenue that has to be noted is new Essendon AFLW List Manager Josh Moore was coaching Dandenong Stingrays at the start of the season, so there are some players from the region in that area of the draft such as Matilda Argus and Charlotte Gilmore who fit the mould and needs on the outside.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will the Bombers go tall or small at their first selection?
– Not afraid to look west, is a Sandgroper on the cards early?
– Do Essendon pair up players at the back-to-back selections?