The Bombers' NAB Cup meeting with St Kilda was cancelled earlier this month after two chartered planes carrying the players were unable to land near Wangaratta due to poor weather.
"The AFL has been in regular discussions with the Wangaratta Rural City Council, since the weekend of March 3, and has now locked in a match in next year's NAB Cup," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said in a statement.
"The teams to be fixtured for Wangaratta will be subject to a final decision when the draw is determined in October but Essendon has indicated it will seek to play as one of the teams scheduled at the venue."
The AFL and Essendon will also reimburse the city council and two Ovens and Murray football clubs involved with the match for the residual expenses left as a result of the abandoned game. "We have indicated to the AFL our desire to play a NAB Cup game in the region next year and we will explore other community engagement opportunities," Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said.
"We understand this has affected many people in the local area and together with the AFL we will meet those costs incurred by the council and the clubs as a result of the game being cancelled."
Follow Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
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