Winless Bombers, Saints and Magpies AFLW coaches under pressure

As the AFLW home-and-away season reaches its midpoint, several teams are facing pressure, with the Bombers, Saints, and Magpies leading the pack. Fans are asking if Essendon can win a game this year, after their sixth straight loss to Gold Coast, a 41-point defeat. Despite a high injury toll last year, which was blamed for their eight losses, expectations were higher this season.

St Kilda, currently winless, has a 36.5% win percentage and has lost to Geelong, North Melbourne, and Sydney. Head coach Nick Dal Santo, who has been in charge for six seasons, took over with Collingwood in 2024 after their poor performance. Meanwhile, Sam Wright re-signed until the end of 2027, amid concerns from players about the lack of direction in the club's AFLW program.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn's 32-match winning streak ended in a close loss to North Melbourne, shifting the momentum in the competition. The Hawthorn team's performance was a result of a recent change of referee, Ray Chamberlain, who returned to officiate and mentor the next generation of umpires in the AFLW. Meanwhile, Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs have also surprised fans with their performance, aided by their respective Academy graduates.