Essendon has retained experienced trio Brooke Walker, Amelia Radford and Matilda Dyke on one-year contract extensions.

The deals add flexibility around the ground for the side in 2026, with Dyke a staple in the lineup for all 12 games this season, while Walker and Radford look to bounce back from respective injury setbacks.
 
Despite an ACL tear last pre-season, Radford has been a consistent performer on the wing and through the middle in her three full seasons, with a career-best average of 15 touches per game coming in 2024.
 
The 2022 VFLW flag winner has featured in 30 games for the Dons at senior level to date.
 
Walker was enjoying a consistent start to 2025 prior to a devastating ACL injury against the Cats in round four.
 
The strong-tackling midfielder hadn’t missed a game in the two seasons prior, with her mix of grunt work and agility often making for a nice point-of-difference in the engine room.
 
Across stints with Carlton and the Bombers, Walker has now notched up 53 career games – aiming for a playing return early next season, the 30-year-old’s calming influence will again be positive for the group.
 
In defence, on the wing and in the ruck, Dyke has taken on a slew of roles across her 25 games over three seasons in the red and black.
 
The 23-year-old’s versatility has impressed since joining from the WAFLW - her 17-disposal, six-tackle performance against West Coast in Steph Wales’ absence was a brave effort back in round two this season.
 
AFLW Head of List and Recruiting Josh Moore is excited for the three players to be staying in the sash next year.
 
“Brooke, Amelia and Matilda are all great club people and offer us some really good options around the ground,” Moore said.
 
“To retain over 100 collective games of experience is important for our group and especially our younger players, knowing they have even more steadiness around them out there.
 
“Matilda always puts her hand up and her best foot forward in taking on a heap of different tasks and roles for us – her versatility is a terrific asset and it’s great she’s re-signed for another year.
 
“Amelia and Brooke have also been important from a leadership perspective. They’ve been around the system for a long time and are just really consistent operators with how they attack both training and gameday.
 
“We’re excited to have them both back in their returns from injury next season.”