SEN Time On host Sam McClure has reported that this year’s draft will be held over two days for the first time in the AFL’s history.
The first round selections will be announced in a big showpiece event on November 22 at Etihad Stadium, while the rest of the draft, as well as the pre-season and rookie drafts, will take place the next day on November 23.
“The AFL has written to clubs today and they’ve confirmed a couple of things that we’ve known for a little while,” McClure told SEN Afternoons.
“The night of Thursday the 22nd of November will be the main picks as a big extravaganza which we’ve come to know.
“The reasoning and rationale behind that is that once the top 10 come up on stage and show their jumpers, the draft can sort of drag on a little bit, so they’ve decided to end it there for the night and come back on the 23rd of the day of the Friday and hold the rest of the draft.
“Then you’ve got the pre-season and the rookie draft as well being held on Friday the 23rd.”
Clubs will also be allowed to exchange live picks between October 5 and November 16.
“The trade period this year will be October 5th to the 17th, so that’s part one of the trade period where you can trade picks and players,” McClure added.
“Part two will be all continuing, so October 5th to November 16 you can still trade picks.
“So a week before the draft, essentially from the start of the trade period and up until the week before the draft, you can trade picks.
“And you can still trade picks when it gets to the actual draft.”
Listen to Sam McClure's chat on SEN Afternoons with Andy Maher in the player below