Key Dates
The AFL has confirmed the below dates for key 2021 off-season events, including the player movement period and draft.
Player movement period
- Monday, September 6: Draft Nominations Open
- Friday, October 1: Free Agency opens
- Monday, October 4: 2021 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period opens
- Friday, October 8: Unrestricted Free Agency closes / Restricted Free Agency bidding closes
- Monday, October 11: Restricted Free Agency matching closes
- Wednesday, October 13: 2021 Continental Tyres Trade Period closes at 7.30pm AEDT
- October/November: Selection Only Trade Period
- Wednesday, November 3-9: Delisted Free Agency Period 1
- Thursday, November 11-15: Delisted Free Agency Period 2
- Wednesday, November 17: 2021 NAB AFL Draft Nominations Close
- Wednesday, November 24: 2021 NAB AFL Draft Round 1
- Thursday, November 25: Mid-Draft Trade Period
- Thursday, November 25: 2021 NAB AFL Draft Round 2 onwards
- Friday, November 26: Pre-Season & Rookie Draft
Return to training
Clubs and players will return to training over three calendar periods, detailed below:
Dates TBC