Will Setterfield has signed a one-year contract extension to remain a Bomber in 2025.
A new deal was confirmed for the 26-year-old this week, who endured an injury-hit campaign in 2024 but showed his capability in limited opportunities and finished the year strongly in the VFL.
Setterfield is looking forward to another run in the red and black next season, keen to solidify his spot in an evolving midfield mix.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play for Essendon and I’m pumped to have signed on for next year,” Setterfield said.
“I’ve loved my two seasons at the Bombers so far and I can’t wait to get to work over the summer ahead of the 2025 season. We’ve got a great group of driven and determined players and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Setterfield has proven to be a strong ball-winner and an important inside presence in his 14 games across two seasons with the Bombers to date, opening the year well on that front once again.
A solid 24-disposal, eight-tackle effort in the clinches against Hawthorn helped propel a 24-point round one win, before finishing as one of the side’s best with 29 disposals and an equal game-high eight clearances in the round two interstate defeat to Sydney.
Setterfield unfortunately suffered a niggling knee injury after round two with some setbacks in his recovery, restricting him to just four of a possible 13 games before the Bombers’ bye round.
Returning via the VFL in the second half of 2024, Setterfield produced consistently in the reserves and averaged 27 disposals per game across eight appearances, guiding the side to five wins in that stretch.
GM – AFL Daniel McPherson is confident in what Setterfield can bring to the Dons’ midfield with a clean run in 2025.
“We are pleased to have Will on board for another year. He is a respected member of our playing group, a strong cultural driver, and is an important part of our midfield mix,” McPherson said.
“Unfortunately Will has been restricted due to injury over the past two seasons so we hope he can get his body right, have a full pre-season and get back to playing the strong AFL football we know he is capable of.”
