Essendon's VWFL squad returned to the NEC Hangar in early February for pre-season training, which saw strong engagement across the group.
A significant number of players got back in the chairs early, setting the tone for a focused and driven preparation ahead of the 2026 season.
Momentum continued to build in March with the club hosting its pre-season camp across two days.
The camp provided the playing group with their first opportunity for structured, high-intensity training, while also strengthening connections within the squad.
Players heard from guest speakers from across the Club, gained valuable insights into the Essendon environment, and officially welcomed new faces into the program. The camp concluded with a special jumper presentation on Day 2, marking an important milestone as players received their playing guernseys for the season ahead.
Following camp, the squad entered a six-week lead-in to the pre-season tournament.
Training intensity lifted as Senior Coach Chris Henderson and Community Coach Yasmina McGlone led a series of relentless sessions, sharpening team strategies, structures, and on-court cohesion.
Round one v Collingwood: Sunday 17 May 1:00pm at the State Netball Hockey Centre.
Their attention now turns to Round one, where Essendon will take on traditional rivals Collingwood.
Their most recent Championship clash saw Collingwood come away with a 28-point win in the elimination final. However, the Community side delivered a strong result of their own, defeating Collingwood by 13 points in the preliminary final before going on to secure the premiership the following week.
The 2026 season also welcomes five new additions to the squad, including former Richmond Premiership player John Secombe, along with Brandon Jones, Michelle Medancic, James Saw and Luke Cameron, all of whom are new to the sport and eager to make their mark.
Leading the program this year will be newly appointed Championship captain Mitch Stretton, alongside returning Community captain Ben Milton, as both look to guide their teams through what promises to be an exciting and competitive season ahead.
Key Games to Watch
Round four: Dreamtime Game v Richmond - Sunday 14 June 1:00pm at the NEC Hangar
One of the highlights of the season comes in Round four, with the annual Wheelchair Dreamtime Game against Richmond, hosted at the NEC Hangar.
The Community team will take to the court at 1:00pm, followed by the Championship side at 2:00pm.
The event promises to be a special occasion, with temporary stadium seating brought in to elevate the match-day experience, alongside Indigenous dance performances and cultural activations to celebrate the significance of the round.
Round five v Hawthorn: Sunday 21 June 1:00pm at Cardinia Life Stadium
The team heads to Pakenham to take on the Hawks in what’s always a fiery contest.
This matchup shapes as a battle of two of the competition’s most dangerous forwards, Hawthorn’s Yassin Hill and Essendon's Caleb Logan, both 100-goal scorers in a season.
Round nine v Richmond: Sunday 19 July 1:00pm at Shepperton Sports Stadium
Round nine will see the program head regional for Country Round, travelling to Shepparton to once again face Richmond.
The trip provides an opportunity to showcase wheelchair football in regional Victoria while continuing to build strong connections with the broader community.
2025 Results:
Championship – 2-6 Record (4th)
Community – 5-3 Record (3rd)
2026 Squad:
CHAMPIONSHIP:
2 – HAYDEN FARLEY
5 – CALEB LOGAN
8 – JAMES LEONARD
17 – MITCH STRETTON
18 – CHRIS HENDERSON
29 – JORDAN KINNIBURGH
COMMUNITY:
6 - BRANDON JONES
7 - MICHELLE MEDANCIC
14 - WILL TAYLOR
16 - JAMES SAW
26 – LUKE CAMERON
28 - KALEB POWELL
43 - BEN MILTON
