Essendon women's co-captain Bonnie Toogood says her AFLW team had "complete trust" in the club's board throughout the bungled process to find a new chief executive.
The Bombers were plunged back into crisis this month when Andrew Thorburn stood down as CEO a day after he was appointed, due to his role as chairman of a church with divisive views around abortion and homosexuality.
Once those views became public, Essendon told Thorburn he was unable to serve as the club's chief executive while continuing as chair of City on a Hill.
The club has not yet settled on a replacement.
The events unfolded in a whirlwind period after Toogood's side had suffered a heavy defeat to AFLW premiership contenders the Brisbane Lions in round six.
The Bombers lost to Geelong the following week and are now gearing up to celebrate AFLW pride round - played in support of diversity and inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities and families - with Saturday's game against Sydney.
"It really hasn't been much of a distraction at all," Toogood told AAP of the Thorburn saga.
"It was really blow in, blow out and it happened over 24 hours.
"We were coming off the back of Brisbane and flying home.
"We had complete trust in the board and their decision and everything that the club was doing.
"We didn't have much control over it and it wasn't much of a distraction because we're in the midst of our season."
Toogood said she was more interested getting her team back on track after the Brisbane loss, which put a dent in the Bombers' hopes of making a surprise run at the finals in their inaugural AFLW campaign.
"It wasn't something that we really sat down and (discussed as a group) because we were coming off the back of Brisbane and going into another game," Toogood said.
"We're really focused on what we're building and as a co-captain I'm more concerned about how my teammates are feeling off the back of a footy game and where the feeling is as a group, rather than having to worry about something that we don't really control."
The Bombers will wear their first AFLW pride guernsey - designed by VFLW premiership players Mia-Rae Clifford and Kendra Heil - when they take on the Swans at Ikon Park.
"It's such a special round for a lot of the players because we get to respect the history of the community that's built women's football, which I think is first and foremost, as well as creating a celebration and an education piece," Toogood said.
"The round (this year) is all about 'allies' and it's really important that we have allies around us that also understand and are educated and then can help lead in the community.
"It's a really special round for so many people."
