AFL Teams Focus on Future After Missing Finals

The AFL Wildcard Round and finals series for 2026 have commenced, leaving eight teams to shift their focus towards free agency, contracts, and the upcoming draft.

With their regular season concluded, the clubs that did not qualify for the finals are now strategizing for the future. This includes decisions on coaching changes, such as the recent appointment of Mark McVeigh as the new senior coach for Essendon, and how to utilize their first overall pick in the National Draft.

Essendon has seen success in previous drafts under new management, and they are expected to make strategic moves to enhance their roster. The team may also reconsider their stance on Zach Merrett's trade request from last season, which could impact their draft strategy moving forward.