PREPARATIONS for this year's NAB AFL Trade Period ramped up last week when 12 clubs met for preliminary discussions.

In a meeting that was organised by Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd, representatives from a dozen clubs caught up at a café in the Docklands precinct on Friday morning.

It is understood there was a variety of reasons for the six clubs (Essendon, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Richmond) who didn't attend.

The clubs who were there could chat with rivals about their trade plans for the exchange period for an early gauge who could be on the move in October.

Typically list managers from clubs will meet multiple times throughout the season, including on the opening day of the trade period at Etihad Stadium.

At last week's informal meeting day, some of the discussions included the contract status of each club's players and the needs of certain lists heading into the off-season.

The AFL is yet to lock in dates for this year's trade period, although it has discussed shortening it to eight days, which would see it run from Monday to Monday (on October 8-15).

The League has also not yet decided on a location for this year's NAB AFL Draft.

AFL.com.au reported in May that Tasmania was being considered to host the draft and although that still remains a chance, it appears more likely to be staged in Melbourne.

It would be the first time since 2009 – when Melbourne picked Tom Scully at No.1 – that the draft is held in Melbourne with the AFL taking the event on the road to Gold Coast, Sydney and Adelaide in recent years.