UTILITY Mark Baguley is set to play on with Essendon in 2019, but only after being delisted and re-rookied.

AFL.com.au understands the 31-year-old will be retained as a rookie by the Bombers to ensure an eighth AFL season next year.

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Deployed as a forward in the latter stages of 2018, Baguley notched 20 games and was in the Bombers' best and fairest top 10 after 19 rounds.

Following the delistings of Brendon Goddard, Josh Green and Jackson Merrett and departure of Travis Colyer to Fremantle, Baguley is set to be rewarded with another season.

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Under new rules introduced before the 2018 season, any player on an AFL list is eligible for senior selection at any stage of the season, regardless of whether they're a senior or rookie listed player.

Taken as a mature-age rookie selection ahead of the 2012 season, before he was promoted to the senior list later that year, Baguley has played 124 games in seven seasons, mostly in defence.

It comes after defender Michael Hartley re-signed for 2019, while No.2 ruckman Matthew Leuenberger is edging closer to a re-commitment with the club.

Other Bombers awaiting decisions on their future include Jake Long, Ben McNiece, Trent Mynott and Matt Dea.

With the acquisition of Dylan Shiel set to bolster the Bombers' midfield, the Bombers enter the draft at pick 34, while also holding selections 66 and 84.