Following consultation with Clubs and approval from the AFL Commission, the AFL has today announced the introduction of future pick trading in the AFLW Competition and an AFLW Pre-Season Draft, as well as one on-field rule change and a number of umpiring interpretation changes. 

With the introduction of future pick trading, Clubs will be permitted to trade their future first round selection or their future second round selection, but not both. 

Board approval will be required for the trading of future first round selections and Clubs must have a presence in the first round for at least two years within a five-year period unless otherwise approved. 

The AFLW Pre-Season Draft will replace the Supplementary Selection Period, with dates for the Pre-Season Draft to be confirmed in due course. 

The on-field rule change that has been introduced for the 2025 AFLW Season will mean that for stoppages that occur within 10 metres of the boundary between the 50m arcs, the ball up will take place 10 metres inside the boundary. 

In addition to that on-field rule change, the following umpiring interpretations will be applied:

• Ruck Nomination: Once a ruck nomination has been received from each team, the umpire will restart play, regardless of whether the nominated players are in the area to contest the throw up or throw in.
• No Genuine Attempt: Umpires will be stricter on players who do not make a genuine attempt to dispose of the ball when tackled legally with no prior opportunity.
• Dive/Drag: Umpires will be stricter on players who dive on or drag the ball in and do not immediately knock the ball clear when tackled legally. 

AFL Executive General Manager of Football Operations Laura Kane said the introduction of future pick trading and a Pre-Season Draft further highlights the growth of AFLW.

“Following the transition to a National Draft last season, these changes are further recognition of the greater sophistication that is being established in the AFLW competition and specifically within player movement,” said Ms Kane. 

“Introducing future pick trading means creating more trade collateral and levers for clubs to pull, giving them greater ability to make list management decisions and in turn, more opportunity for player movement. 

“Data shows us that secondary stoppage rates are higher when the ball up is close to the boundary and scoring rates are lower, so the introduction of the on-field rule change is aimed at opening up space around stoppages close to the boundary line where the stoppage is denser.

“This change and subsequent umpire interpretation changes have been implemented to help create more flow and offensive play in AFLW and mitigate the increasing rise in density levels over the last two seasons.”

Richmond's AFLW season begins on August 15 against the Sydney Swans.

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