AFL WOMEN’S clubs will now be able to trade future draft selections in-line with the men’s competition officially announced today. In a positive for the competition’s expansion and greater versatility during the off-season, it enables clubs to use currency it may not otherwise have immediately in order to close deals, or add value to them.

While a positive step in the right direction, there are still some caveats for the introduction of future pick trading which are as follows:

• Clubs are only handed future first and second round selections

• Clubs must retain at least one of their future selections at the conclusion of the trade period

• List managers must have approval from their club’s board in order to trade their future first-rounder

• Each club must make a first-round selection for at least two years within a five-year period unless otherwise approved.

The other major change to the AFLW Trade and Draft Period is the introduction of a Pre-Season Draft to replace the Supplementary Selection Period (SSD). As it stands, clubs have a period of time to essentially add any players they wish to their list providing they have open list spots.

However the change now allows clubs – in reverse ladder order – to benefit from overlooked players who might have been on their radar and snap them up post-draft. The official date of the Pre-Season Draft is yet to be confirmed, with the main AFLW Draft held on December 15.

AFL executive general manager of football operations Laura Kane said the moves added “greater sophistication” to the competition’s player movement period.

“Following the transition to a national draft last season, these changes are further recognition of the greater sophistication that is being established in the AFLW competition and specifically within player movement,” Kane said.

“Introducing future pick trading means creating more trade collateral and levers for clubs to pull, giving them greater ability to make list management decisions and in turn, more opportunity for player movement.”

The future AFLW Draft pick trading will be one welcomed by the Queensland Academies in particular, with the Gold Coast Suns having to juggle the potential of four first round prospects this year, while Brisbane Lions Academy have no less than three next year.

In addition to those Academies, clubs with father-daughter prospects coming through the ranks – such as Adelaide (Polly Turner – 2026), St Kilda (Sunny Lappin – 2025), Carlton (who have access to both under dual eligibility) and Collingwood (Leni Lockyer) have the ability to make calls on how they will manage their lists over a two-year span from a draft perspective.