New look Draft and Trade Period coming in 2018
The AFL has advised details regarding the NAB AFL Trade Period and the 2018 NAB AFL Draft.
For the first time, live trading of selections during the NAB AFL Draft will be introduced to provide clubs with more flexibility when making player selections and managing their lists.
The Draft will be held across two days at Marvel Stadium (formerly Etihad Stadium) in Melbourne with the first round selected during the evening of Thursday, November 22 and the remaining rounds to occur the following day Friday, November 23. The NAB AFL Pre-season and Rookie Drafts will also occur on the final day.
In another change, the NAB AFL Trade Period will be conducted in two parts:
- Part One will involve the ability for clubs to trade both players and Draft selections from 9.00am AEDT Monday, October 8 through to 8.30pm AEDT Wednesday, October 17.
- Part Two will allow clubs to continue to trade Draft selections until 2.00pm AEDT Friday, November 16.
AFL General Manager Game Development, Andrew Dillon said all 18 clubs are supportive of the Trade and Draft changes.
“We have been working closely with the clubs to create a more open and fluid trade and draft process,” Mr Dillon said.
“By finishing the Player Trade Period during prime time all football fans can be part of the process. Introducing live trading during the Draft gives the clubs the opportunity to trade up and down the Draft selection order and gives them more flexibility to achieve better list outcomes.
“Clubs will be given a time period to make live trade decisions which will extend the time of Draft.
“Returning the NAB AFL Draft to Melbourne for the first time in a decade also gives us the chance to refresh the format, while utilising Marvel Stadium gives the scope to host football fans as they to welcome new players to their clubs.”
Key dates:
NAB AFL Draft Combine
Tuesday October 2 to Friday October 5
Victoria/NEAFL/Tasmania State Draft Combine
Friday October 5
Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agency
9.00am AEST Friday October 5 to 5.00pm AEDT Friday October 12
NAB AFL Trade Period – Players and Selections
9.00am AEDT Monday October 8 to 8.30pm AEDT Wednesday October 17
SA State Draft Combine
Saturday October 13
WA State Draft Combine
Sunday October 14
NAB AFL Trade Period – Selections only
9.00am AEDT Thursday October 18 to 2.00pm AEDT Friday November 16
NAB AFL Draft
First Round: Evening Thursday November 22 (time to be confirmed)
Second Round to completion: Friday November 23 (time to be confirmed)
NAB AFL Preseason and Rookie Drafts
Evening Friday November 23 (time to be confirmed)
Both days of 2018 NAB AFL Draft will be broadcast live nationally on FOX FOOTY and the NAB AFL Trade Period will be broadcast via AFL Trade Radio available on the AFL Live Official App and AFL.com.au.
The AFL Live Official App will also broadcast the 2018 NAB AFL Draft with extensive coverage on AFL.com.au and on Twitter: @AFLDraft
The NAB AFL Draft is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL. The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- NAB AFL Academy
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
NAB has been supporting footy from grassroots to the elite level since 2002.
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