The 2017 AFL Women's draft consisted of the various periods when the eight clubs in the AFL Women's competition could recruit players prior to the competition's 2018 season. As the previous season's player contracts were all capped at one-year deals, all existing AFLW players must be re-signed prior to the 2018 season. Entering the second season of the competition, clubs will have larger list sizes, with 27 senior listed players, and three rookie listed players.
Signing and trading period
Beginning 1 May, clubs were given an 18-day window to re-sign players on their lists from the previous season, with teams being required to retain between 15 and 22 players during that period. There was also a window for teams to trade players and draft picks in a trade period that started on 15 May 2017, and continued for 12 days. Players were eligible to seek a trade should they receive a contract offer from a rival club at a pay scale level above their previous years' salary. Players could also reject any offer from their existing club lower rate than in 2017, and become restricted free agents permitted to sign with another club at or above their previous salary. Players who do not receive offers from their 2017 club were free to sign with any club during the four-day free agency period starting 29 May 2017 or to nominate for the 2017 draft.
A second free agency period opened at the conclusion of the draft, allowing undrafted players to be signed. This period closed on 19 October, the day after the draft.
Player
Signed with
Ref
Salary
AFLW players salaries are managed and paid in full by the AFL on behalf of the clubs. A pay deal struck between the league and the AFLPA in November 2016 set the 2018 season payment structure as follows:
Marquee players
Priority players
Other players
Number
2
4
up to 24
Salary
$27,946
$12,846
$9,276
It is expected that these salaries will be renegotiated and increased, as the time commitment of players was found to be greater than expected during the 2017 season. In addition, players are provided with playing boots and runners, an interstate travel allowance, income insurance, out-of-pocket medical expense coverage, and an allowance to pay for a carer for a child under 12 months of age when travelling interstate.
Draft
A draft was held 18 October 2017. It operated with players nominating for a single state's draft pool and players only being eligible to be drafted by clubs operating in that state. Clubs concluded the draft period with a total of 30 players, 27 of these being senior listed and three of these being rookie players.
The rookie draft took place on 20 October 2017. Players qualify for the rookie draft if they are under the age of 21 or are crossing from another sport.
Pick
Player
Drafted to
Recruited from
League
Notes
1
Auburn Giants
SWAFL
2
Coastal Titans
WAWFL
3
VU Western Spurs
VFL Women's
4
Cranbourne
VFL Women's
5
Bendigo Thunder
VWFL
6
Geelong Supercats
SEABL
7
University of Queensland
QWAFL
8
Wanderers
NTFL
9
Adelaide University
Adelaide FL
10
East Fremantle
WAWFL
11
Mornington
SEFNL
12
South Bunbury
SWFL
13
Gungahlin
ACTWAFL
14
Bond University
QWAFL
15
Morphettville Park
Adelaide FL
16
South Fremantle
WAWFL
17
Launceston
TFL
18
Bond University
QWAFL
19
Swan Districts
WAWFL
Promoted to senior list to replace Kirby Bentley who was put on the long-term injury list
