Essendon has lodged its initial VFLW playing list on the eve of its 2022 campaign.
With their core group of stars retained and several new signings, the VFLW Bombers are set to build on their 2021 preliminary-final berth when they open their season against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
They’ll be led by co-captains Georgia Nanscawen and Mia-Rae Clifford, while head coach Brendan Major will helm the side for a fourth consecutive season.
AFLW/VFLW operations manager Charlotte Miller said there was a raft of new talent set to don the sash for the first time, with the squad unveiled during a jumper presentation night on Monday.
“There’s a lot of new names, in particular a number of players who are relocating to Melbourne to join our program,” Miller said.
“We’ve got Sarah Ford, who moved down from Sydney in November after spending a couple of years on the edge of AFLW selection for GWS. She’s a big Bombers fan and has family in Craigieburn, which has made the transition easier.
“Mikaela Trethowan is relatively new to football but has relocated from Wangaratta to pursue VFLW.
“Joanne Doonan will be joining us in a week from Ireland. She played with Carlton’s AFLW side in the season prior to COVID and returned home following that. She recently captained her side in the All Ireland camp.
“Bella Clarke is a young player from Darwin with lots of talent. She came through NT Thunder and has been playing with Southern Districts more recently, along with some doing training with the Gold Coast Suns. She’ll be with us in time for round two.
“Jordan Zanchetta is a really exciting footballer from Brisbane. She played 14 games with the Lions in the AFLW before being delisted, and she’s moved to Melbourne to hopefully break back into the AFLW system next season. She’ll be available for round one.”
The VFLW Bombers can make another six senior and 10 development list changes over the course of the season, while also being able to sign up to 15 AFLW players at the conclusion of the AFLW season.
They’ll open their 2022 campaign against the Bulldogs from 12:30pm at the NEC Hangar on Saturday.
See their season match-ups here and initial playing list below.
2022 VFLW PRIMARY LIST
| Guernsey number | Player | DOB | Height |
| 1 | Courtney Ugle | 22/7/96 | 160cm |
| 2 | Mikaela Trethowan | 29/1/00 | 165cm |
| 3 | Sarah Ford | 24/1/00 | 160cm |
| 4 | Mia-Rae Clifford (C) | 10/9/86 | 169cm |
| 5 | Georgia Nanscawen (C) | 27/5/92 | 162cm |
| 7 | Jessie Davies | 27/6/96 | 171cm |
| 8 | Eloise Ashley-Cooper | 1/8/00 | 165cm |
| 9 | Marianna Anthony | 26/7/97 | 168cm |
| 10 | Eleanor Cornish | 12/1/00 | 177cm |
| 12 | Isabel Currenti | 12/2/92 | 167cm |
| 13 | Elizabeth Hosking | 30/5/95 | 168cm |
| 14 | Danielle Marshall | 15/8/91 | 173cm |
| 15 | Lauren Caruso | 19/11/99 | 161cm |
| 16 | Tamsin Crook | 3/10/02 | 178cm |
| 17 | Federica Frew | 14/6/96 | 167cm |
| 18 | Kendra Heil | 12/3/88 | 166cm |
| 19 | Nicole Julian | 19/4/92 | 168cm |
| 20 | Cecilia McIntosh | 21/6/79 | 160cm |
| 21 | Alex Morcom | 22/8/96 | 166cm |
| 22 | Natalie MacDonald | 11/12/98 | 164cm |
| 24 | Renee Tierney | 23/5/02 | 164cm |
| 25 | Bella Ayre | 9/12/98 | 176cm |
| 26 | Joanne Doonan | 4/7/94 | 170cm |
| 30 | Simone Nalder | 30/6/90 | 186cm |
| 31 | Eloise Gardner | 1/7/98 | 175cm |
| 34 | Rebecca McDonagh | 18/5/89 | 176cm |
| 42 | Jordan Zanchetta | 18/3/95 | 156cm |
| 44 | Grace Dicker | 17/1/01 | 168cm |
| 45 | Bella Clarke | 22/5/01 | 176cm |
| 46 | Gloria Elarmaly | 24/2/01 | 176cm |
2022 VFLW DEVELOPMENT LIST
| Guernsey number | Name | DOB | Height |
| 11 | Kasey Lennox | 7/8/03 | 176cm |
| 38 | Olivia Manfre | 18/9/03 | 168cm |
| 47 | Stephanie Asciak | 18/9/03 | 165cm |
| 36 | Reese Sutton | 22/6/04 | 162cm |
| 37 | Abbey Baillie-McDonald | 5/2/04 | 162cm |
| 39 | Scarlett Orritt | 20/4/04 | 172cm |
| 43 | Octavia DiDonato | 23/2/04 | 172cm |
| 23 | Amelia Radford | 13/7/95 | 168cm |
