To celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, AFLW players Bonnie Toogood and Stephanie Wales inspired a room full of young people on Friday morning, sharing honest reflections on the highs and lows of their sporting journeys.
Fittingly held at Windy Hill, the home ground of Essendon’s AFLW program, the event brought together students from local schools including Essendon Keilor College, Kensington Community High, Buckley Park College, Mount Alexander College, Rosehill Secondary College and Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar.
The wide‑ranging panel discussion was led by Maribyrnong MP Jo Briskey and featured former Attorney‑General and Victorian Minister for Health, The Honourable Jill Hennessy, alongside the two Essendon leaders. Together, they explored resilience, leadership and the evolving landscape of women’s sport.
Toogood and Wales shared their distinctly different pathways to elite football.
Toogood spoke openly about her transition from state‑level netball to being offered a rookie spot at the Western Bulldogs, where she was selected with pick 11 in the 2017 AFLW Rookie Draft. Wales, by contrast, was scouted from the Casey Demons in the VFLW and drafted at pick 32 in Essendon’s inaugural 2022 AFLW National Draft. Despite their different beginnings, both emphasised the same message to students - 'back yourself'.
The pair also reflected on the lessons learned through adversity, whether from tough losses, missing finals or major injuries. Now both part of Essendon’s AFLW leadership group, with Toogood as co‑captain and Wales stepping into the extended leadership team, they shared how setbacks had shaped their growth.
Encouraging students to find and use their voices, Toogood highlighted the importance of being her “authentic self,” while Wales stressed the value of “giving 100% effort” in any circumstance. They discussed challenging attitudes that don’t align with personal values and recognising that leadership can take many forms.
The conversation also touched on the rise of women’s sport globally, pointing to the WNBA and stars like Caitlin Clark as examples of shifting cultural momentum. They noted the excitement of seeing young girls now having genuine pathways to play professionally, opportunities that did not exist a decade ago.
As MP Briskey reminded the room, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
With role models like Toogood and Wales standing before them, students left with a clearer sense of what’s possible. They walked out with renewed confidence in their potential, recognising themselves as the next wave of leaders who will shape the future of women’s sport, strengthen their communities and drive change in whichever fields they choose to pursue.
