Essendon has delisted former Pick 5 Elijah Tsatas, experienced forward Jade Gresham, small forward Matt Guelfi, key forward Liam McMahon and defender Saad El-Hawli.
Tsatas played six games for the Bombers in 2026, averaging 24.3 disposals and 4.3 clearances per game. He played 22 games across four seasons at the club.
The 187cm midfielder was taken with Pick 5 in the 2022 AFL National Draft and has since failed to cement his spot in a struggling Essendon outfit which won the wooden spoon this season.
The 21-year-old has not been offered a new contract under new coach Mark McVeigh as the Bombers look to reset for 2027.
Tsatas played the majority of the season in the VFL and finished ninth in the league's best-and-fairest.
Gresham is another first-round pick who has been delisted by the Bombers. The 29-year-old was taken with Pick 18 in the 2015 National Draft by St Kilda where he played 136 games and kicked 136 goals.
The small forward was then traded to Essendon at the end of 2023 where he added a further 48 games and 35 goals to his tally.
Guelfi's time at the Bombers resulted in 124 games and 69 goals after being taken with Pick 76 in the 2017 National Draft.
The 29-year-old played three games in 2026.
McMahon played seven games and kicked 12 goals for the Bombers after being taken in the 2025 Mid-Season Draft.
El-Hawli played 17 games after being taken in the 2024 MSD.
Essendon's list manager Matt Rosa commented on the delistings on Tuesday.
"We want to thank Matt, Jade, Elijah, Saad and Liam for everything they have given this football club,” Rosa said.
"Matt gave us nine seasons and 124 games, and he leaves as a respected club person and hard worker. Jade brought experience and skill to a young forward group and helped guide our young small forwards.
"Elijah, Saady and Liam each took a different path to Essendon, but each showed great commitment to the club and their teammates.
"Each of them has played an important role across both our AFL and VFL programs, and they have handled these conversations with real maturity.
"We wish them all the best and thank them for their time in the red and black."
Tsatas' ability to win the ball never came under question, but some of the criticism of Tsatas was his defensive capabilities at stoppage and around the ground. Also, his impact with his disposals.
Plucked from the Oakleigh Chargers after a dominant season in 2022, Essendon chose Tsatas ahead of the likes of Bailey Humphrey, Cameron Mackenzie, Jhye Clark, Reuben Ginbey and Mattaes Phillipou in the top 10 of the draft.
Opposition clubs will likely back in their own development system and look at Tsatas as a late draft, rookie draft or SSP option given he was a top five draft pick four years ago and can find the footy with ease.
Calls on Archie Perkins, Jayden Nguyen, Kayle Gerryn, Liam McMahon, Nik Cox, Rhys Unwin, Saad El-Hawli, Tom Edwards and Will Setterfield have yet to be confirmed.
