The rebounding defender, 26, returns to Tullamarine as a rookie.

He was delisted at the end of the 2020 season with the Bombers signalling their intent to re-draft him.

They used pick six in Thursday's rookie draft on Gleeson, who overcame a serious foot injury to regain his spot in the Bombers' best 22 last season.

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Essendon also welcomed back midfielder Dylan Clarke, 22, as a rookie.

The club had three top-10 selections in the national draft, taking damaging midfielder Archie Perkins and talls Nik Cox and Zach Reid.

It also matched bids for Next Generation Academy prospects Josh Eyre and Cody Brand.

Gleeson was one of three players with south-west connections drafted.

Western Bulldogs snapped up Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who played for East Warrnambool and South Warrnambool, in Wednesday night's AFL draft. He was the number one pick.

Tanner Bruhn, the son of former Koroit player Matthew, went to GWS Giants at pick 12. Promising ruckman Henry Walsh, the son of former Cobden coach Wayne and brother of Carlton midfielder Sam, was overlooked as was former Camperdown talent Cedric Cox, who played 13 games for Brisbane before being delisted.

The AFL also announced quarter lengths would revert to 20 minutes plus time-on in 2021 after shorter quarters were introduced this year to help navigate a condensed coronavirus-impacted season.

It will release the 2021 fixture on December 23 with rounds one to seven confirmed.

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