The AFL wishes to advise details regarding the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s Draft have been confirmed.

Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds will host the 2019 NAB AFLW Draft on Tuesday, October 22 with arrivals commencing at 10:30am AEST.

AFLW expansion clubs, the Gold Coast Suns, Richmond, St Kilda and the West Coast Eagles, had until Friday, August 30 to sign up to seven players from their Academy who were undrafted in 2019. Clubs have the opportunity to bid for additional Academy players before the 2019 NAB AFLW Draft.

In addition to this, all AFLW clubs were able to sign Rookie players.

Rookies must not have played Australian Football in three years prior to May 1, 2019 or have been involved in a high-performance AFLW program. The Rookie signing period closed on Friday, August 30.

The NAB AFLW Draft is state based. Players nominating for the Draft must elect which state they wish to play with some Clubs also having a specific region within their State to develop talent. The nomination period for the 2019 NAB AFLW Draft opened on Monday, September 2.

AFL Head of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said opportunities for the country’s young talent have never been more exciting with the Gold Coast Suns, Richmond, St Kilda and the West Coast Eagles joining the competition.

“Eleven players selected in the first-round of the 2018 NAB AFLW Draft went on to make their debuts in 2019 with Madison Prespakis also named the 2019 NAB AFLW Rising Star,” Ms Livingstone said.

“The four expansion teams joining the competition in 2020 will provide a further 120 places for talented young female players from across Australia and I am excited to see what the next generation of players will be able to bring to the competition.”

Key dates

Expansion Academy & Rookie signing period
Monday, April 8 – Friday, August 30

Draft Nominations Open
Monday, September 2 – Friday, September 20

NAB AFLW Draft Combine
Tuesday, October 1 – Friday, October 4

NAB AFLW Draft
Tuesday, October 22