Essendon to Prepare for 2026 AFL Draft Strategy

The club holds the first selection in the November 2026 AFL draft and plans to bid on prospect Dougie Cochrane.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Football

Essendon to Prepare for 2026 AFL Draft Strategy

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Essendon enters the November 2026 AFL draft with the first overall selection, marking their first top pick since 2016. The club intends to place a bid on academy prospect Dougie Cochrane, though Port Adelaide holds the rights to match the bid.

Why it matters

Securing the No. 1 pick allows Essendon to reshape their list after using three first-round selections on Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp in 2025. The strategic use of this pick is critical to their ongoing recruitment programme.

Midfielder Ethan Drever measures 188 centimetres and placed in the top 10 for vertical jumps, along with fifth in the 20-metre sprint at the draft combine. He achieved these results after averaging 28 disposals and 14 contested possessions per game in 2026.

The players

Essendon

This professional Australian rules football club competes in the AFL and is currently prioritising a major talent recruitment strategy.

Dougie Cochrane

He is an academy prospect who is currently the subject of potential bidding by Essendon in the upcoming draft.

Port Adelaide

This AFL club holds the official academy rights to match any draft bid placed on Dougie Cochrane.

Ethan Drever

An 18-year-old midfielder from Ballarat, he is a top draft prospect who recently won the Vic Country MVP award.

The details

Ethan Drever, an 18-year-old midfielder from Ballarat, has emerged as a primary target for Essendon following his success with the GWV Rebels. Drever earned All-Australian honours and the Vic Country MVP award after a standout 2026 season.

2016: Essendon last held the No. 1 draft pick.
2025: Essendon selected Robey, Farrow, and Sharp in the draft.
2026: Ethan Drever played midfield for the GWV Rebels.
November 2026: The AFL draft will take place.

Football
Oct. 20
AFL Draft To See Essendon Bid For Dougie Cochrane
Hockey
Oct. 20
Ethan Drever Enters 2026 AFL Draft Pool
Soccer
Oct. 21
Brisbane Lions to Trade Picks for Caylen Murray

Season Trajectory

Essendon's move follows the aggressive recruitment pattern established during the 2025 AFL draft. Their ability to secure a top talent like Ethan Drever or Dougie Cochrane will significantly impact the club's competitive balance for the coming years.

Essendon's decision to bid on Dougie Cochrane will force Port Adelaide to either sacrifice draft capital to retain him or accept the loss of the player. This draft manoeuvring will dictate the composition of the club's midfield rotation for the next several seasons.

The takeaway

The draft process highlights the complexity of managing academy rights alongside open-market selections. Fans and observers should note that holding the No. 1 pick does not guarantee the selection of a specific prospect due to matching mechanisms.