A SHORTER Trade Period could be on the cards this year under an AFL proposal to cut it to eight days.

The League recently wrote to clubs detailing its plans for the NAB AFL Draft to run over two days, and invited feedback on implementing a mid-season exchange period and/or draft.



AFL.com.au understands part of the AFL's proposal includes reducing the Trade Period to eight days, starting on a Monday in October and running through to the following Monday.

There have also been suggestions the AFL could move its final-day deadline from 2pm to later that night so it could broadcast the frantic last hours in prime time.

Last year's Trade Period ran in total for 11 days – from Monday, October 9 to Thursday, October 19. Clubs contacted by AFL.com.au believed eight days was enough to get their deals done.

A change likely for this year will be the ability for clubs to trade draft picks after the official exchange period is finished.

With the live trading of draft selections expected to be introduced to the draft this year, the AFL has also proposed that clubs will be able to swap selections until a week out from the draft.

The two-night draft concept would see the first round of the event held on the opening night, likely from 7-9pm, before the rest of the draft begins the next morning at 10am.

Under one proposal, the rookie draft would follow later that day immediately after the national draft has ended.

While it would suit some clubs to roll into the next draft without a gap, others would prefer at least a day's break between the national and rookie drafts to take stock of their list.