Essendon open to trading picks as AFL Draft nears

Essendon will be all ears when it comes to potential negotiations with rival clubs for live pick swapping at the AFL Draft this year, with the Bombers open to "advancing" their hand where possible.

The Dons will enter the count with one of the stronger draft hands, holding Picks 5, 6, 21, 27 and 30, tallying 5162 points - the second most in the league behind West Coast.

Points will be required as early as night one given Essendon's ties to NGA pair Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar, who could both earn rival attention in the top 40.

The Bombers could use their three first-round picks before having to consider their leftover points total, potentially seeing them come away from the draft with an enviable crop of kids.

Their position has them in the mix to live trade their later two picks for more points and potentially add to their future draft hands, while they may also consider moving back or forward in the queue with their earlier picks.

A club keen to get into the top 10 could come calling, while Essendon could attempt to move up into the first few spots via a trade with West Coast or Richmond.

The Bombers have flagged they'll look to have "good communication with other clubs" to assess how they might be able to improve their current hand.

“We feel really energised by the position we're in approaching the draft. To have two first-round picks and five selections inside the 30 offers terrific flexibility for us,” Essendon recruiting boss Rob Forster-Knight told the club's media arm.

“Over the last couple of years, we've obviously followed these boys really closely so we feel we have a really good handle on what's going to be presented to us when the night comes.

“Brad Scott and Daniel McPherson have been extremely invested in this process and we all feel aligned on the level of talent and character we're looking to bring into our program.

“There'll always be different things to play out in the build-up to – and on – draft night itself, so we'll remain open to advancing our hand and maintaining good communication with other clubs.”
Among the potential suitors for Essendon's first two selections are Adelaide, St Kilda, West Coast and Carlton, with those sides potentially packing picks to get ahead of rivals to secure particular prospects.
Through trading last year, Essendon acquired Melbourne's 2025 first-round pick, which sits at sixth overall in this year's order.

The Pick 21 selection was handed to them as compensation for the loss of free agent Sam Draper, while Pick 30 was attained from St Kilda in 2024.

As for the club's future selections, the Bombers parted with their 2026 third-round selection to Gold Coast in a deal that saw Brayden Fiorini land at Tullamarine in October.