Ethan Drever linked to Essendon ahead of 2026 AFL Draft

Essendon holds the No. 1 pick in the upcoming AFL draft and has reportedly committed to selecting Port Adelaide academy prospect Dougie Cochrane. Following this selection, the club is expected to look toward other top talents, with 188-centimetre midfielder Ethan Drever emerging as a primary candidate for the No. 2 pick.

Drever, a Ballarat-based player from the GWV Rebels program, has been compared to former Essendon draft pick turned All-Australian Hugh McCluggage due to his leadership style and playing traits. Talent operations lead Brooke Brown described Drever as an ‘A-plus type of character’ who leads by example and maintains a calm demeanor on the field.