Essendon Bombers unlikely to receive early draft picks under new AFL rules

AFL draft Essendon Bombers draft assistance package AFL Commission Mark McVeigh

The Essendon Bombers are unlikely to receive high-level draft assistance for the 2026 AFL draft due to new league regulations. While the club has applied for an assistance package, new rules regarding compensation picks for bottom-five teams mean the club is more likely to be granted extra rookie spots to build list depth rather than early-round draft picks.

Under the current system, compensation in the form of additional second-round picks is built into the rules if a first-round pick slides back due to matched bids for academy or father-son players. This mechanism could benefit several clubs, including Richmond, West Coast, Port Adelaide, and North Melbourne, if specific bids are matched.

Essendon coach Mark McVeigh is seeking to bolster the squad following his transition from an assistant role at Sydney. The AFL Commission is expected to announce its decision on the Bombers' application on the Monday preceding the Grand Final.

Entities

AFL · Cody Walker · Essendon Bombers · Mark McVeigh

Sources

AFL 2026: The Essendon Bombers asked the AFL for an assistance package. They won’t receive help early in the 2026 draft, which includes star young prospects like Cody Walker and Dougie Cochrane [www.watoday.com.au]

3 days ago