‘Need some experience’: AFL confirms assistance package for Essendon

Essendon will have two extra rookie list spots next season after asking the AFL for help four months ago, but missed out on a draft pick request and soft cap relief.

The Bombers, who sacked coach Brad Scott in May and have hired ex-player Mark McVeigh to lead their next era, were hoping for an end-of-first-round selection to help supercharge their rebuild.

They won only two matches this year after a 6-17 record in 2025, when they suffered through a lengthy injury list.

The AFL will review this decision at the end of next year, after which it could recommend similar support for Essendon in 2028 and 2029.

Speaking on SEN on Tuesday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said Greg Swann, Tom Harley and others at league headquarters had worked closely with the Bombers and decided this was the most appropriate assistance package for their situation.

“What they need is some more experience there, so they’ll have two additional rookie spots, which they can [use to] add experienced players onto their list,” Dillon said.

“Essendon asked for it, and we feel that they do need that. They have to continue to replenish through the draft, but they also ... had players leave over the past couple of years, and I think they need some experience around them as well.”

Swann said in a statement announcing the Bombers’ assistance package that it was important to strive towards having a “competitively balanced competition” where fans felt their team could “win on any given day”.

Essendon’s assistance is not at the same level as recent recipients West Coast, North Melbourne and Gold Coast, although they endured a longer period at the bottom of the ladder.