THIS year's exchange period will again run for nearly two weeks after the AFL confirmed its dates for the trade, free agency and NAB AFL Draft windows.

Clubs will be able to make official offers to free agents on Friday, October 6 and have until Wednesday, October 18 to match offers.

The trade period will begin three days after the free agency opens to clubs, with deals able to be struck from Monday, October 9 when recruiters will gather at Etihad Stadium.

The trade period ends on the following Friday, with a 2pm deadline. 

The League also confirmed on Monday that the rookie and pre-season drafts would be held on Monday, November 27 with a later starting time of 5pm.

This follows the draft being held in Sydney on Friday, November 24.

After the exchange period ends in October, clubs will have three more chances to add players to their list via the delisted player free agency periods.

Clubs will need to lodge their final lists for the 2018 season by Wednesday, November 29.

When does the 2017 NAB AFL free agency and trade period start and finish?

Here are the indicative key dates for this year's exchange period:

Friday October 6 - NAB AFL restricted free agency offer and unrestricted free agency period begins

Monday October 9, 9am* - NAB AFL Trade Period begins

Sunday October 15, 5pm - Close of NAB AFL restricted free agency offer and unrestricted free agency period

Wednesday October 18 - NAB AFL restricted free agency matching offer three-day period ends

Thursday October 19, 2pm – NAB AFL Trade Period closes

How else can players switch clubs?

Delisted players become free agents and can join new clubs during any of the three NAB AFL delisted player free agency windows.

Once clubs have delisted a player, they will receive no compensation should that player be signed by a new club.

The key dates for delisted free agents are as follows:

Wednesday November 1 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (1) begins

Wednesday November 8 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (1) closes

Friday November 10 -  NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (2) begins

Friday November 17, 5pm - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (2) closes

Saturday November 25 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (3) begins

Sunday November 26, 2pm - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (3) closes

Wednesday November 29, 2pm - Final AFL club list lodgement

Delisted players can also nominate for the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft. 

When is the 2017 NAB AFL Combine?

Tuesday October 3 – Friday October 6 – NAB AFL Draft Combine

Saturday October 14 - South Australian Draft Combine 

Sunday October 15 - West Australian Draft Combine 

When are the 2017 NAB AFL Draft and Rookie Drafts?

The NAB AFL Draft returns to Sydney in 2017. The draft will be held on Friday, November 24.

The NAB AFL Pre-season and Rookie Drafts will be held from 5pm on Monday, November 27.    

*All times AEDT unless indicated