This year's exchange period will again run for nearly two weeks after the AFL confirmed its dates for the trade, free agency and NAB AFL Draft windows.
Clubs will be able to make official offers to free agents on Friday, October 7 and have until Wednesday, October 19 to match offers.
The trade period will begin three days after the free agency opens to clubs, with deals able to be struck from Monday, October 10 when recruiters will gather at Etihad Stadium.
The trade period ends on the following Thursday, with a 2pm deadline.
The League also confirmed on Monday that the rookie and pre-season drafts would be held on Monday, November 28 with a later starting time of 4pm.
This follows the draft being held in Sydney on Friday, November 25, although the AFL is yet to confirm the venue for the event.
After the exchange period ends in October, clubs will have three more chances to add players to their list via the delisted player free agency periods.
Clubs will need to lodge their final lists for the 2017 season by Wednesday, November 30.
The AFL's decision to fixture the Grand Final in October has meant the national draft combine will again run over the following weekend at Etihad Stadium.
It will begin on Thursday, October 6 and go through to Sunday, October 9, to allow prospects who are finishing year 12 to miss as little school as possible.
When does the 2016 NAB AFL free agency and trade period start and finish?
Here are the indicative key dates for this year's exchange period:
Friday October 7 - NAB AFL restricted free agency offer and unrestricted free agency period begins
Monday October 10, 10am* - NAB AFL Trade Period begins
Sunday October 16, 5pm - Close of NAB AFL restricted free agency offer and unrestricted free agency period
Wednesday October 19 - NAB AFL restricted free agency matching offer three-day period ends
Thursday October 20, 2pm – NAB AFL Trade Period closes
How else can players switch clubs?
Delisted players become free agents and can join new clubs during any of the three NAB AFL delisted player free agency windows.
Once clubs have delisted a player, they will receive no compensation should that player be signed by a new club.
The key dates for delisted free agents are as follows:
Tuesday November 1 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (1) begins
Tuesday November 8 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (1) closes
Thursday November 10 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (2) begins
Friday November 18 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (2) closes
Saturday November 26 - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (3) begins
Sunday November 27, 2pm - NAB AFL delisted player free agency period (3) closes
Monday November 30, 2pm - Final AFL club list lodgement
Delisted players can also nominate for the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft.
When are the 2016 NAB AFL Draft and Rookie Drafts?
The NAB AFL Draft heads to Sydney in 2016. The draft will be held on Friday, November 25.
The NAB AFL Pre-season and Rookie Drafts will be held from 4pm on Monday, November 28.
