Essendon have confirmed their first-ever signing for their AFLW side, with VFLW co-captain Georgia Nanscawen signing on with the expansion club for next season.
Nanscawen played one campaign with North Melbourne in 2019 before being delisted and venturing to Tullarmine with the Bombers' reserves side, winning the club's best and fairest and a spot in the VFLW Team of the Year that same year.
Coming off the back of a stellar 2021 campaign where the 29-year-old was crowned as the best and fairest of the VFLW, Nanscawen will return to the top flight in linking up with the Bombers' senior side as they embark on their maiden season in the AFLW.
โIโve found my place at Essendon and I am so proud and humbled to sign with our inaugural AFLW side. The coaching staff and playing group have put a lot of faith in me and helped me immensely in developing as a footballer and leader,โ Nanscawen said.
โSince joining the club, I have been forward in saying Essendon is where I want to be. This club has such a proud history, and to have the opportunity to play AFLW for the Bombers in our inaugural side is pretty amazing.
DOWNLOAD YOUR 2022 AFL SEASON GUIDE NOW!
โI cannot speak more highly of the womenโs program at the Bombers and I canโt wait to see what we achieve in the future.โ
A 205-time representative for Australia's national field hockey team, Nanscawen will bring unparalleled experience to the Bombers' squad, with the inside midfielder set to have an instant impact with her new club.
Bombers football boss Josh Mahoney expressed his delight in having Nanscawen join the club's cause ahead of the seventh AFLW season and the club's first.
โGeorgiaย epitomises everything an Essendon footballer represents. Over the past three years, she has shown her dedication and commitment to the club while continuing to improve her football and drive standards within our VFLW program,โ Mahoney said.
โAs captain of our VFLW side for the past two years, Georgia has led by example with her on-field performances and has contributed strongly to our football programโs inclusive and supportive culture.โ
Essendon will join Sydney, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn as expansion sides for the AFLW next season, with the latter having also announced their first signing in young gun Bridget Deed.
