All the key events for the AFL Trade Period and what they mean

YOUR essential guide to the 2017 AFL trade period and what each important event means.

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As this year promises to deliver possibly the most intense wheeling and dealing yet, here’s a guide to all the key dates.

3-6 October: AFL Draft Combine

The draft combine is like an exclusive boot camp. The top 100 draft prospects are tested for their physical and mental ability in front of club scouts. Tests include a 20m sprint, agility test, standing vertical jump and the Brad Johnson goalkicking test.

The combine, also knows as the draft camp, takes place at Etihad Stadium a week after the Grand Final, and to attend the prospective draftees need to be invited.

On October 14 and 15, players from South Australia and Western Australia who don’t travel to Melbourne will attend their state combines.

6-15 October: Free Agency period

Free agents are AFL players who can consider an offer to switch to another club in the off-season.

What are unrestricted and restricted free agents?

Restricted free agents are in the top 10 highest earners at a club, have served there for a minimum eight years and are out of contract. If they want to move to a different club, their current club has an opportunity to match any offer in a three-day window.

Unrestricted free agents are players who have also served at least eight years at a club, but don’t have one of the top salaries. Clubs have no option to match offers from rival clubs for unrestricted free agents. Delisted players who were on the primary list of their club can also become unrestricted free agents, but not players who retire or are delisted on their own.

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October 9, 9am: NAB AFL Trade Period commences

Clubs meet to discuss which players will potentially transfer. Normally, the trades are discussed between coaches and list managers. Clubs can trade players for other players or draft picks, including selections in future drafts — although they must have two first-round picks across a four-year period.

October 19, 2pm: NAB AFL Trade Period closes

The final day of the trade period is also one of the busiest — teams wrap up deals and the trades must be lodged with the AFL office before 2pm.

November 24: 2017 National Draft

As one of the most important events of the season, the draft is where teams are reconstructed and dynasties are made.

This year the draft will be held in Sydney, where teams announce which players they’ve managed to recruit. The bulk of the recruits are made up of TAC Cup players and those who play at state levels.

What’s the father-son rule?

The father-son rule gives clubs the opportunity to preferentially recruit sons of past players who played at least 100 games for that team.

In 2015, the rule was amended to include a bidding process.

This bidding system is a complex beast, with each draft pick assigned a points value using a draft value index. Generally, clubs nominating father-son picks can match bids from other clubs at a discount.

Similarly, clubs have first rights on academy players — juniors from the same zone the club represents.

November 27, 5pm: Pre-Season Draft

Conducted via a phone hook-up at AFL House, the pre-season draft involves recruiting uncontracted players — although this has largely been taken over by the free agency process.

READ MORE: AFLW TRADE PERIOD 2017: DEALS COMPLETED BY ALL EIGHT CLUBS

November 27, 5.10pm: Rookie Draft

These players are placed outside the primary and senior lists and are typically considered development prospects or back-up players — but many rookies have gone on to AFL success.

November 29, 2pm: Final AFL Club List Lodgement

This is when the clubs are required to lodge their final lists — 46 players plus six rookies.