ESSENDON has signed VFL player Ben McNiece as a Category B rookie through its Next Generation Academy.

McNiece, who qualified under multicultural academy rules as his mother was born in India, is a hard-at-it defender who has been a part of the club's VFL side for the past two seasons. 

The 178cm backman becomes the first player to join the Bombers through the multicultural and indigenous academy rules.

Clubs who nominated the prospects as Next Generation Academy players were able to automatically add them to their list if they were overlooked at the national and rookie drafts, like the 24-year-old McNiece was.

Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro told the club's website that McNiece would offer more depth to its backline brigade.

"We are really pleased to have finalised our list for the 2017 season, and Ben's addition provides us with another small defensive option," Dodoro said. 

"Ben has an elite left kick, and he has a super competitive nature which allows him to win a lot of contested possessions.

"He has shown he is capable of shutting down some of the state league's best small forwards and will continue to play an important role for us this season."