The 2021 AFL draft comprised the various periods where the 18 clubs in the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL) can trade and recruit players during and following the completion of the

2021 AFL season The 2021 AFL season was the 125th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior men's Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season featu ...

. The National Draft returned to being a two day event in 2021, after being held on a single night in 2020. After coming 18th in the 2021 AFL season, the

North Melbourne Football Club The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos, is a professional Australian rules football club. The men's team competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), and the women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW). The Kangaroos also ...

held the number one draft pick in the National draft for the first time, selecting midfielder Jason Horne-Francis.

Key Dates

2021 mid-season rookie draft

The mid-season draft was held after the conclusion of Round 11 of the

on 2 June. The draft was only open to clubs with inactive players on their list and vacancies available, such as long term injuries or retirements.

Previous trades

Since 2015, clubs have been able to trade future picks in the next year's national draft during the trade period. As a result, a total of 30 selections for the 2021 draft were traded during the 2020 trade period. Further trades of future picks can be made before or during the 2020 national draft. The selection order for each of these picks is tied to the original club's finishing position in the 2021 season.

Player movements

Free agency

* Sam Skinner was delisted by in 2020 * Tyson Stengle was delisted by during the 2021 pre-season

Trades

List changes

Retirements

Delistings

2021 national draft

Rookie elevations

Clubs were able to promote any player who was listed on their

rookie list The rookie list is a means for Australian Football League (AFL) clubs to maintain additional players outside the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligible to play in AFL home-and-away or finals matches unless they are e ...

in 2021 to their 2022 primary playing list prior to the draft.

2022 pre-season draft

2022 rookie draft

Category B rookie selections

Pre-season supplemental selection period

References

{{Afldraft Australian Football League draft 2021 Australian Football League season