2018 AFL draft


The 2018 AFL draft consisted of the various periods where the 18 clubs in the Australian Football League traded and recruited players following the completion of the 2018 AFL season.
For the first time, the AFL draft featured live trading of picks and was held over two days, with the first round held on the evening of Thursday, 22 November and the remainder of the draft being held on Friday, 23 November The draft was held in Victoria for the first time since 2009.

Key dates

Player movements

Previous trades

Since 2015, clubs have been able to trade future picks in the next year's national draft during the trade period. As a result, a total of 29 selections for the 2018 draft were traded during the 2017 trade period, and the selection order for each of these picks is tied to the original club's finishing position in the 2018 season.
New ClubAcquired via
1Jake Lever trade
1Pick swap
2Bryce Gibbs trade
2Bryce Gibbs trade
2Pick swap
2Pick swap
2Nathan Wilson trade
2Pick swap
2Adam Saad trade
2Gary Ablett trade
2Devon Smith trade
2Sam Murray trade
3Bryce Gibbs trade
3via
on-traded to
3Brandon Matera trade
3Jake Lever trade
3Devon Smith trade
3Pick swap
3Sam Murray trade
3Pick swap
3via
on-traded to
4Darcy Lang trade
4Darcy Lang trade
4Gary Ablett trade
4Hayden Crozier trade
4via
on-traded to
on-traded to
4Logan Austin trade
4via
on-traded to
4Jake Lever trade

Free agency

PlayerDateFree agent typeFormer clubNew clubCompensationRef
UnrestrictedNone
Unrestricted
Restricted
Restricted
Unrestricted
Delisted-
Delisted-
Delisted-
Delisted-
Delisted-

DateNo.PlayerTraded fromTraded toTraded forRef
1
1
1
2 third round pick
2 third round pick
2 third round pick third round pick
3
4
4
4
4
5
5 third round pick fifth round pick
5
5
5
6
6
6 fourth round pick
7
8
9
9
9 fourth round pick fourth round pick
10
10
10 third round pick
10 third round pick
11
11 second round pick
12Dean Kent
13
13
14
14 second round pick
15
16
17 third round pick
17 fourth round pick third round pick
18 fourth round pick
19
20
21 fourth round pick
22 fourth round pick
23
23
23 third round pick
23 third round pick fourth round pick
24
24
24 third round pick
25 first round pick
25 first round pick second round pick
25 first round pick third round pick
26
26
26
27
27
28
28
28
28
29
29
29
30
30
31 fourth round pick
32
33
33
34
34 third round pick
35
36 fourth round pick
37
37 second round pick first round pick
38 fourth round pick
39
39
39 first round pick
40
40

'		41 third round pick

'		42 second round pick

'		43 first round pick

'		43 first round pick first round pick

'		44

'		44 fifth round pick

'		45

'		45 fifth round pick second round pick

'		46

'		46

'		47 third round pick

'		48 third round pick

'		49 fourth round pick

'		50 fourth round pick

'		50 fourth round pick

'		51

'		51 fifth round pick

'		52 fourth round pick

'		52 fifth round pick fourth round pick

'		53

'		53 fourth round pick

'		54 fourth round pick

Retirements and delistings

†Retired, effective immediately
‡Retired, effective at the end of the season
RRookie listed player
BCategory B Rookie listed player

DateNameClubStatus
Retired †
Retired †
Retired †
Retired † B
Retired †
Retired †
Retired †
Retired †
Retired †
Retired †
Retired †
Retired ‡
Retired †
Delisted
Retired ‡
Retired † R
Delisted
Retired †
Retired †
Retired ‡
Retired R
Delisted B
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted B
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted R
Delisted B
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted B
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Retired ‡
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted R
Retired
Delisted R
Retired
Retired
Retired
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted B
Delisted
Delisted
Retired
Retired B
Delisted
Retired
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted R
Delisted R
Delisted B
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Retired
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Retired
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Retired
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Retired
Delisted
Delisted R
Delisted
Delisted
Delisted
Retired

Pre-draft selections

Prior to the draft, the two bottom teams and applied for Priority Picks in the National Draft, which the AFL denied. However, were granted pre-draft access to up to three and up to two mature-aged State League players each, these selections could be traded to other clubs.

2018 national draft

Rookie elevations

Clubs were able to promote any player who was listed on their rookie list in 2018 to their 2019 primary playing list prior to the draft.
PlayerClub

2019 rookie draft

Category B rookie selections

Clubs were able to nominate category B rookies to join their club in 2019.
NameClubOriginNote
Brisbane Bullets 3-year non-registered player
Dublin GAAInternational selection
Seattle Redhawks 3-year non-registered player
Derry GAAInternational selection
Cork GAAInternational selection
Next Generation Academy selection
Kerry GAAInternational selection
Geelong FalconsNext Generation Academy selection
Derry GAAInternational selection
Melbourne Tigers 3-year non-registered player
Melbourne Renegades 3-year non-registered player
Sligo GAAInternational selection
Next Generation Academy selection
Next Generation Academy selection
Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks 3-year non-registered player
NSW zone selection
Melbourne Tigers 3-year non-registered player
Altona Gators 3-year non-registered player
Western JetsNext Generation Academy selection

Pre-season supplemental selection period

Shortly before the National draft, the AFL introduced a new mechanism to allow clubs to sign certain eligible players direct to their Rookie List, rather than through the draft, provided the club had vacancies on their rookie list. Eligible players could be listed between December and March.