EIGHT clubs will be able to trade its future first-round draft picks this season safe in the knowledge it has already fulfilled the AFL requirement to make two first-round draft picks in any four-year period.

It gives Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn and Melbourne flexibility as it enters the trade market in October to trade first-round draft picks.

AFL.com.au confirmed with the AFL that as long as a club has two first-round picks in a four-year period, they comply with the rules surrounding future first-round draft picks that were introduced ahead of last year's trading period.

Those rules introduced last season state that clubs must make at least two first-round selections in each four-year period or face restrictions from trading any further first-round draft picks and that clubs can trade one year in the future only.

There were 23 players chosen in the first round last season with the introduction of the points-based bidding system seeing five Academy graduates picked within the first round.

Although Melbourne is one of three clubs without a first-round draft pick this season it would be able to confidently trade a future first-round pick if it wanted to secure a highly rated player from another club.

It chose Clayton Oliver and Sam Weideman in the first round last season, trading out this year's future pick in a deal with Gold Coast.

Although Melbourne would be unlikely to trade its 2017 first-round draft pick in this trade period it does not have to make two first-round draft picks until the end of 2019.

The Demons' smart strategy has seen the club secure eight first-round draft picks in the past four years as it rebuilt its list.

Geelong and Collingwood did not have a first-round draft pick in 2016 and will not have one in their hands when they enter the 2016 trade period either, having used a future first-round draft pick last year to secure Lachie Henderson from Carlton and Adam Treloar from Greater Western Sydney.

The two clubs will have to make two first-round draft picks before the end of 2018, potentially limiting their immediate options at the trade table this season unless they can trade their way back into the first round.

Under the rules the four-year period is rolling, meaning clubs will find it difficult to go more than two consecutive years without first-round draft picks.

Gold Coast holds two picks inside the top 10 at this year's NAB AFL Draft and could claim another if midfielder Dion Prestia decides to leave, while Greater Western Sydney has three first-round picks despite sitting fourth on the ladder with picks seven, 14 and 15.

Number of first-round picks in 2015:
Two or more: Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS, Hawthorn, Melbourne
One: Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney Swans, North Melbourne
Zero: Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Western Bulldogs

First round 2016 (Current ladder order)
1. Essendon
2. Brisbane Lions
3. Fremantle
4. Carlton
5. Gold Coast
6. Richmond
7. GWS
8. Gold Coast
9. Port Adelaide
10. St Kilda
11. North Melbourne
12. Western Bulldogs
13. West Coast
14. GWS
15. GWS
16. Adelaide
17. Sydney Swans
18. Hawthorn