ESSENDON says strengthening its midfield will be a high priority at next week's NAB AFL Draft as the club looks to revamp its playing list under new coach James Hird.

The Bombers delisted Jay Neagle, Jarrod Atkinson and Bachar Houli this week, leaving them with selections 8, 31, 48, 64 and 80, as well as a spot in the pre-season draft.

Manager of player personnel Adrian Dodoro said midfield resources were part of the Bombers' plans to rebound from a 14th-place finish in 2010.

"Obviously there are a number of areas of our team we'd like to bolster, but we haven't hidden from the fact we'd like to improve our midfield," Dodoro told essendonfc.com.au.

"We're looking at the draft as an opportunity to improve the list and we are confident we've done our homework and we can find a couple of promising players."

However, Dodoro said the Bombers' use of their first pick (No.8 overall) would depend largely on the decisions of those clubs ahead of them in the draft order.

"There are a number of quality midfielders around that pick," he said.

"There are a couple of ruckmen, and there are a couple of key position players, so there is something for everyone."

Hird, who has been interstate on a recruiting trip, has made it clear that he wants players who are hungry to succeed and prepared to work in an elite environment, Dodoro said.

Football manager Paul Hamilton said the delisted Neagle and Atkinson had not met the standards Hird demanded upon returning to pre-season training.