2012 AFL draft

Player movements

Of the players not yet eligible for free agency, Kurt Tippett from , Sharrod Wellingham and Chris Dawes from were the highest profile players who were linked to trade discussions. Geelong have reached an agreement with Gold Coast regarding Josh Caddy, which would involve Geelong's mid-first-round compensation pick, for losing Gary Ablett Jr. to the Suns and other picks to be confirmed, with paperwork for this trade to be lodged to the AFL at a later date.

Free agency

During the 2012 AFL season, in the leadup to the first ever free agency trade period, there was speculation about high-profile players who had contracts that expired at the end of the season, including Travis Cloke, Travis Boak, Brendon Goddard and Troy Chaplin. However, during the season, Cloke and Boak both re-signed with their current clubs. Brent Moloney from became the first player to announce that he would become a free agent He was followed by Carlton pair Bret Thornton and Jordan Russell, West Coast's Quinten Lynch and Port Adelaide's Steven Salopek to declare themselves as free agents.

The initial list of free agents, published in March 2012, consisted of 62 unrestricted free agents and 19 restricted free agents. A restricted free agent is a player who has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service. Unrestricted free agents are players who have been delisted by their club, played more than ten seasons at one AFL club or has played eight or more seasons at one club and is not one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club. Restricted free agents must allow their current club to match any offer from a rival club, whereas unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any other club.

The final free agents list issued on 27 September in the week before the trade period commenced consisted of 28 unrestricted free agents and six restricted free agents, reflecting the number of players that had either re-signed with their current club or retired from the AFL.

Trades

Note: the numbering of the draft picks in this trades table may be different to the draft picks known at the time of the trade due to adjustments due to either the insertion of compensation draft picks, Adelaide relinquishing their first two selections or clubs exiting the draft before the later rounds.

Retirements and delistings

Mini-draft

As part of their entry concessions, was allocated up to four selections in a mini-draft, which could be used to recruit seventeen-year-olds who would not otherwise be eligible for that year's national draft. These players could not play senior AFL football until the 2014 season. GWS could not use these draft picks themselves, but could trade them to other clubs prior to either the 2011 or 2012 AFL Drafts. In 2011, and negotiated trades with GWS for selections in this draft and selected Jaeger O'Meara and Brad Crouch. The two remaining selections for the 2012 mini-draft were obtained by the Gold Coast (pick No. 1) and Melbourne (pick No. 2). Western Australian youngsters Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan were widely expected to be taken with the two Mini-draft picks.

2012 national draft

The 2012 AFL national draft was held on 22 November at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

During the free agency and trade period, the Adelaide Football Club was investigated for draft tampering and breaches of the salary cap relating to the 2009 contract extension of Kurt Tippett, who was seeking a trade. Adelaide was likely to incur a loss of draft picks, among other penalties, if found guilty, but the AFL Commission was yet to complete its hearing into the matter when the National Draft was held, so the club was permitted to participate in this year's draft as normal. However, on the day before the draft, the club voluntarily relinquished its highest two remaining selections (No. 20 and 54) as a "gesture of goodwill" ahead of the hearing. When the final penalties were handed down on 30 November, Adelaide was also stripped of its first and second round draft picks in the 2013 National Draft, as well as receiving a fine; Tippett received an 11-match suspension, and a fine.

• Source: AFL Draft Order Notes:
• Compensation picks are selections in addition to the normal order of selection, allocated to clubs by the AFL as compensation for losing uncontracted players to the new expansion clubs, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. The picks can be held for up to five years and clubs declare at the beginning of the season of their intent to utilise the pick at the end of the season. Picks could be traded to other clubs in return for players or other draft selections.
• free agency compensation picks are additional selections awarded to teams based on their net loss of players during the free agency trade period.
• Promoted rookies are players who are transferred from a club's rookie list to their primary list.
• Local talent selections are local zone selections available to the new expansion clubs.

2013 pre-season draft

The 2013 AFL pre-season draft was held on 11 December 2012.

2013 rookie draft

The 2013 AFL rookie draft was held on 11 December 2012.

Selections by league

Draft selection totals by leagues:

--

References

References

1. Browne, Ashley. (30 September 2012). "Don't expect a free-for-all".
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120328175521/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131572/default.aspx Key dates for draft and free agency]
3. Lienert, Sam. (30 September 2012). "Goddard heads AFL free agency candidates".
4. Rucci, Michelangelo. (27 September 2012). "Crows forward Kurt Tippett leaves town to consider future". Adelaide Now.
5. Edmund, Sam. (28 September 2012). "Collingwood denies Travis Cloke's contract saga killed its premiership chances". Herald Sun.
6. Denham, Greg. (5 September 2011). "The much sought-after midfielder Travis Boak intends to stay with Port". [[The Australian]].
7. Holmesby, Luke. (30 September 2012). "FA explained".
8. Macgugan, Mark. (16 March 2012). "Free agents".
9. "Free agency rules".
10. Holmesby, Luke. (27 September 2012). "Goddard one of six key agents".
11. Phelan, Jason. (20 October 2012). "Saints given pick 13 for BJ". [[BigPond]].
12. Schmook, Nathan. (1 October 2012). "Freo tables Pearce offer".
13. Tedeschi, Nick. (1 October 2012). "Goddard now a Bomber".
14. Daffey, Paul. (1 October 2012). "Knights heads to Tigerland".
15. (1 October 2012). "Richmond tables offer for Chaplin".
16. McNichol, Adam. (2 October 2012). "Lynch joins Collingwood".
17. Holmesby, Luke. (4 October 2012). "Byrnes joins Melbourne".
18. Daffey, Paul. (12 October 2012). "Suns snare Murphy".
19. Twomey, Callum. (12 October 2012). "Moloney a Lion".
20. Ryan, Peter. (18 October 2012). "Rivers flows to Geelong".
21. Witham, Jennifer. (19 October 2012). "Pies' Young talent time".
22. Macgugan, Mark. (1 November 2012). "Hawks sign Simpkin".
23. Seewang, Niall. (13 November 2012). "Gillies joins Demons".
24. (29 November 2012). "Roberton joins Saints".
25. McNichol, Adam. (3 December 2012}}{{dead link). "Lower signs with Dogs".
26. Seewang, Niall. (8 October 2010). "Suns to snare Martin". AFL.com.au.
27. (16 August 2012). "Miller's time is up, Moore retires too". AFL BigPond Network.
28. (20 August 2012). "Bulldog veterans to retire". AFL BigPond Network.
29. (21 August 2012). "Taz for the memories. Tarrant to hang up the boots". The Age.
30. (28 August 2012). "Grover and out". AFL BigPond Network.
31. (29 August 2012). "Spike calls it a day". AFL BigPond Network.
32. (29 August 2012). "Sun sets for Fraser". AFL BigPond Network.
33. (3 September 2012). "Dogs delist history-making little man". AFL BigPond Network.
34. Gleeson, Michael. (3 September 2012). "Jurrah quits Demons". Fairfax.
35. (7 September 2012). "Lion veteran Buchanan calls it quits". AFL BigPond Network.
36. (4 September 2012). "Brent Moloney". Melbourne Football Club.
37. (5 September 2012). "Old McDonald goes, Chad stays". AFL BigPond Network.
38. (5 September 2012). "Saints cull quartet". AFL BigPond Network.
39. (7 September 2012). "Tigers swing axe and cut six from list". AFL BigPond Network.
40. (7 September 2012). "Changes to the Carlton List". Carlton Football Club.
41. (9 September 2012). "Cats crunched, Scarlett departs". Fairfax Media.
42. [http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-footballer-john-mccarthy-dies-in-las-vegas-20120910-25nmy.html AFL Footballer John McCarthy Dies In Las Vegas]
43. (14 September 2012). "No more, says Chance". AFL BigPond Network.
44. (15 September 2012). "Bulldogs' surprise retirement". AFL BigPond Network.
45. (18 September 2012). "Power pulls the plug". AFL BigPond Network.
46. (18 September 2012). "Wojo calls it a day". Geelong Cats Official AFL Website.
47. (18 September 2012). "Van Berlo one of three delistings".
48. (19 September 2012). "Kangaroos delist three". Fairfax Media.
49. (24 September 2012). "Hogan bids Geelong goodbye on a high". The Age.
50. Whiting, Michael. (21 September 2012). "Lions cut six". AFL.com.au.
51. Whiting, Michael. (25 September 2012). "I can't go on: Drummond".
52. Rucci, Michelangelo. (27 September 2012). "Crows chop Brad Symes off their list".
53. (12 October 2012). "List Change".
54. (27 October 2012). "Dees delist eight players".
55. Landsberger, Sam. (29 October 2012). "Matt Campbell and Cruize Garlett delisted by North Melbourne". Herald Sun.
56. Schmook, Nathan. (29 October 2012). "Eagles axe two more".
57. Holmesby, Luke. (29 October 2012). "Magpies delist five".
58. McNicol, Adam. (30 October 2012). "Cats delist three".
59. Walsh, Gary. (30 October 2012). "Bombers axe two".
60. (30 October 2012). "Hawks announce list changes".
61. (30 October 2012). "Jason Gram contract terminated".
62. Phelan, Jason. (31 July 2012). "Final mini-draft explained".
63. (22 November 2012). "Adelaide's 'goodwill gesture' costs it draft picks 20 and 54". [[The Age]].
64. (30 November 2012). "Adelaide Crows lose draft picks, fined $300,000 and Kurt Tippett receives 11-match suspension". The Advertiser.
65. (21 November 2012). "Crows could face more pain despite shock draft surrender".