Get all the dates and milestones you need to know as football moves into the 2018 off-season.
The Trade Period deadline has moved to prime time and the National Draft will become a two-day event under major changes to the player movement period.
The trade deadline has been scheduled for 8.30pm on Wednesday 17 October, making the Trade Period itself slightly shorter.
And in a huge change to the draft format, live trading of picks will be available to clubs for the very first time.
The draft returns to Victoria for the first time since 2009, with the televised event being held on 22 and 23 November.
The League has written to clubs confirming the live trading "will be introduced to provide clubs with more flexibility when making player selections and managing their lists."
Live trading will also mean there will be an additional window after the conclusion of the AFL Trade Period for trading of selections only in the lead up to draft night.
*All times are AEDT.
When does the 2018 Free Agency and Trade Period start and finish? Friday 5 October: Restricted free agency offer and unrestricted free agency period starts. Monday 8 October (10am): The Trade Period starts. Friday 12 October (5pm): Close of restricted free agency offer and unrestricted free agency period. Monday 15 October (2pm): AFL restricted free agency matching offer three-day period ends. Wednesday 17 October (8.30pm): The Trade Period closes (for exchange of players). Friday 16 November (2pm): The Trade Period closes (for exchange of selections only).
When is the 2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine? Tuesday 2 October – Friday 5 October: AFL Draft Combine. Friday 5 October: Victoria / NEAFL / Tasmania State Draft Combine. Saturday 13 October: South Australian Draft Combine. Sunday 14 October: West Australian Draft Combine.
When are the 2018 NAB AFL Draft and Rookie Drafts? Thursday 22 November (7pm – 9.30pm): National Draft (Round One). Friday 23 November (10am – 1.30pm): National Draft (Round Two onwards to conclusion). Friday 23 November (5pm): Pre-Season Draft and Rookie Draft.
How else can players switch clubs? Delisted players become free agents and can join new clubs during any of the three delisted player free agency windows. Once clubs have delisted a player, they will receive no compensation should that player be signed by a new club.
The key dates for delisted free agents are as follows: Wednesday 31 October (2pm): List Lodgement (1) Thursday 1 November: AFL delisted player free agency period (1) starts Thursday 8 November: AFL delisted player free agency period (1) closes Saturday 10 November: AFL delisted player free agency period (2) starts Friday 16 November (5pm): AFL delisted player free agency period (2) closes Friday 23 November (1.30pm – 2.30pm): AFL delisted player free agency period (3) Tuesday 27 November (2pm): Final AFL club list lodgement
Nathan Murphy and Jaidyn Stephenson joined Collingwood in the 2017 National Draft last November.
Indicative Draft Order As of Monday 8 October 2018
ROUND ONE
CARL
1. Carlton
GCFC
2. Gold Coast
STK
3. St Kilda
BL
4. Brisbane
FRE
5. Fremantle
WB
6. Western Bulldogs
ADEL
7. Adelaide
ESS
8. Essendon
PORT
9. Port Adelaide
NMFC
10. North Melbourne
GEEL
11. Geelong
SYD
12. Sydney
GWS
13. Greater Western Sydney
HAW
14. Hawthorn
ADEL
15. Adelaide (received from Melbourne)
RICH
16. Richmond
COLL
17. Collingwood
GCFC
18. Gold Coast (received from West Coast)
ROUND TWO
ADEL
19. Adelaide (received from Carlton)
WCE
20. West Coast (received from Gold Coast)
PORT
21. Port Adelaide (received from St Kilda)
BL
22. Brisbane
GWS
23. Greater Western Sydney (received from Fremantle)
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