The Essendon Football Club has today announced players Bella Ayre, Olivia Barton and Jordan Zanchetta will not be offered playing contracts for 2023. 

Bella Ayre joined the Bombers inaugural side after a 12-game AFLW career with Carlton and Brisbane. Ayre did not feature at senior level for the Bombers after an injury-riddled season in 2022.  

Olivia Barton was recruited from Port Melbourne after playing 13 VFLW games in 2022. The 21-year-old made her debut for the Bombers in the Round 7.

Jordan Zanchetta featured in the Bombers’ 2022 VFLW Premiership side and was recruited to the AFLW Team for this season. She played three games for the Bombers including wins against West Coast and Sydney. She played 13 AFLW games for the Brisbane Lions before joining Essendon in 2022. 

Georgia Harvey, AFLW List & Recruiting Manager/Head of VFLW, thanked Bella, Olivia and Jordan for their contribution to Essendon this season. 

“Bella, Jordan and Olivia have shown great commitment and dedication to Essendon Football Club in our inaugural AFLW season. The players should all be very proud of the role they played in helping to build our club culture and we thank them for their contribution” Harvey said.

The Bombers finished with a 4-6 win-loss record, 10th on the ladder with a percentage of 98.6.