The 2011 AFL draft consisted of five opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2011/12 Australian Football League off-season.
These were: 2011 trade week; which was held between 10 October and 17 OctoberStars seek Perth moves in AFL trade week A mini-draft of 17-year-old players, as part of the recruitment concessions given to the newly established Greater Western Sydney Giants, which was held on 13 October The 2011 national draft; which was held on 24 November in Sydney.AFL announces national draft will be held in western Sydney in a huge boost for GWS Giants The 2012 pre-season draft, held on 13 December 2011 and The 2012 rookie draft, also on 13 December 2011.
It was the first national draft to feature the Greater Western Sydney Giants, who joined the league in 2012. It was the final draft period before the introduction of free agency in the 2012/13 offseason.
Greater Western Sydney concessions The Greater Western Sydney Giants were to join the AFL in 2012, and were provided with several draft concessions, including additional draft selections, early access to recruit 17-year-old players, and access to uncontracted and previously listed players in this offseason. These concessions were similar to those provided to the Gold Coast Football Club, which entered the league in the previous season.
Greater Western Sydney was permitted to recruit the following players directly, without the need for any draft: At the end of 2010, up to twelve 17-year-old players (born between 1 January – 30 April 1993), who were too young to enter the 2010 AFL draft. These players were not eligible to play senior AFL football in 2011, and would continue to undergo junior development, either in Sydney or their home state. Up to ten players who were not on an AFL list but had previously nominated for a national draft. These players could be recruited at the end of either 2011 or 2012, with no more than ten players recruited in this manner over the two years. Greater Western Sydney could immediately trade any players recruited in this manner. Up to sixteen players who were on an AFL list, but were out of contract at the end of the season. Again, these players could be recruited at the end of either 2011 or 2012, with no more than sixteen players recruited in this manner over the two years, and no more than one player recruited from any other club. Clubs who lost players in this manner received compensatory selections in the national draft; the number and value of these selections was determined based on age, contract size, on-field performance and draft order, and were permitted to be used in any year between 2011 and 2015. Up to sixteen players recruited from the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory zone, recruited at any time between 2010 and 2013, and from the Northern Territory zone, recruited between 2011 and 2013.
Then, in the drafts, Greater Western Sydney had the following selections: In the 2011 national draft, the first selection in each round, and picks No. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 in the first round. In the 2011 rookie draft, the first eight selections. In the 2012 rookie draft, the first selection in each round.
Additionally, at the end of 2011, Greater Western Sydney had the ability to trade the only four selections in a once-off "mini-draft", which could be used to recruit 17-year-old players (born between 1 January – 30 April 1994). Greater Western Sydney could only use these draft picks as trade currency; the club was not permitted to use the picks for its own list development. Players recruited and traded in this manner were not eligible to play senior AFL football in 2012, and would continue to undergo junior development. This specific concession was unique to Greater Western Sydney; Gold Coast did not have the same concession the previous year.
Greater Western Sydney began with an expanded list size of up to fifty senior players and nine rookies, to be gradually reduced to a standard list size of thirty-eight senior players and nine rookies by 2019.
During the 2011 AFL season there was speculation about several players who would be uncontracted at the end of the season, including Tom Scully, Rhys Palmer, Callan Ward and Taylor Walker. In August 2011, Phil Davis from was the first player to announce a move to Greater Western Sydney as an uncontracted player signing.Adelaide Crows lose defender Phil Davis to Greater Western Sydney Giants After the season had ended, Palmer, Scully and Ward also announced moves to the Giants. As compensation, Scully was rated as a top-level player, resulting in receiving both a first-round and a mid-first round draft pick as compensation. Davis and Ward were rated as second-level, earning and a first round compensation selection, and Palmer was rated a third-level player, giving an end of first round selection.
Player movements
Trades In the lead up to trade week, the requests of players to move back to their home states dominated most trade rumours. Mitch Clark, Leon Davis, Brad Ebert and Jack Gunston all requested to be traded back to teams in their states of origin.Victorian clubs in race for homesick tall Jack Gunston
Early in trade week, many trades involved unlisted players being recruited directly by Greater Western Sydney under the club's concessions, then immediately traded.Giants' draft rules explained Where this has occurred, the club from which GWS recruited the player is shown in parentheses after his name.
Trade Player Traded from Traded to Traded for1Steven Morris (West Adelaide)draft pick No. 15draft pick No. 142Martin Clarke (Down GAA)Jamie Elliott (Murray Bushrangers)draft pick No. 67draft pick No. 253Jack Gunstondraft pick No. 53 and 71draft picks No. 24, 46 and 644draft pick No. 4compensation draft pick (first round)Mini-draft pick No. 1draft pick No. 315Terry Milera (Port Adelaide Magpies)Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants)draft pick No. 25draft pick No. 206draft pick No. 20compensation draft pick (end of first round)7Luke Brown (Norwood)Mini-draft pick No. 2draft pick No. 10compensation draft pick (first round)8Will Sierakowskidraft pick No. 589Ivan Maricdraft pick No. 3710Tom Lynchdraft pick No. 3711Brent Renoufdraft pick No. 3312Mitch Clarkdraft pick No. 1213Jordan Lislepriority draft pick (No. 29)14draft picks No. 38 and 56priority draft pick (No. 29)draft picks No. 58 and 7115Jarrad Boumann (Box Hill Hawks)draft pick No. 5616Chad CornesDean Brogandraft pick No. 69draft pick No. 4917Brad Ebertdraft pick No. 45priority draft pick (No. 28)draft pick No. 4918Peter Yagmoor (QLD zone selection)draft pick No. 50draft pick No. 4719Mitch Mortondraft pick No. 7920Luke Powerdraft pick No. 6921Josh Hilldraft pick No. 4922Dayne Zorko (QLD zone selection)draft pick No. 47draft pick No. 34 (3-way trade)23draft pick No. 34(3-way trade)24Matthew Warnock(3-way trade)25Ben Hudsondraft pick No. 7026draft pick No. 26draft picks No. 32 and 3427draft pick No. 24draft picks No. 27, 31 and 6828Tony Armstrongdraft pick No. 35 and 68Lewis Johnston29Tommy Walshdraft picks No. 35 and 6830Josh Jenkinsdraft pick No. 41draft pick No. 3131compensation draft pick (end of first round)draft pick No. 26compensation draft pick (second round)
Note: the numbering of the draft picks in this trades table is based on the original order prior to draft day. The final numbering of many of these draft picks was adjusted on draft day due to either the insertion of compensation draft picks in the early rounds, or clubs passing in the later rounds.
Retirements and delistings
Name Club Date Notes Sacked, continuous breaches of contract. Sacked, continuous breaches of contract. Retirement, due to ankle injury. Retirement, due to neck injury. Retirement, due to knee injury. Retirement, because of multiple head knocks. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, due to ongoing injury problems. Retirement, due to degenerative knee condition. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, effective immediately. Retirement, due to ongoing groin injuries. Retirement, due to ongoing injury. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, at end of season.Dogs call it quits Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, effective immediately. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, effective immediately. Retirement, due to ongoing injury. Retirement, at end of season. Retirement, at end of season. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retirement, effective immediately for AFL games, and at end of season for games. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Retired. Retired. Retired. Delisted.Lions announce list changes Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.Essendon delist three rookies Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.Power List Changes Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Retired.Jones makes games count Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Retirement, due to ongoing injury.Welsh announces retirement Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.Essendon delist Jay Neagle Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired.Milburn retires Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.Changes to Carlton's list Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired will nominate in the pre-season draft.Power List Changes Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Delisted.Essendon delist Irish recruit Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Delisted.GC SUNS delist Daye Retired.Broome heads home Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.Lions announce key re-signings Delisted.St Kilda confirms list changes Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Retired. Retired. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.List lodgements announced Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted. Delisted.Rookies move on Delisted. Delisted.Essendon delist Anthony Long Delisted.Schofield returns home Delisted.Schofield cut by bulldogs Delisted.
Mini-draft As part of their entry concessions, Greater Western Sydney was allocated up to four selections in a mini-draft, which could be used to recruit seventeen-year-old players who otherwise would not be eligible for the 2011 National Draft, but who could not play senior AFL football until the 2013 season. Greater Western Sydney were not permitted to use these draft picks directly, but had to trade them to other clubs. In 2011, Gold Coast and Adelaide secured trades with GWS for selections in this draft, leaving two selections remaining for the 2012 AFL draft.
Pick Player Recruited from League Club 1Jaeger O'MearaWAFL 2Brad CrouchNorth Ballarat RebelsTAC Cup
2011 national draft The 2011 AFL National Draft was held on 24 November in Sydney. It was the second time that the draft was held outside of Melbourne, after being held at the Gold Coast in 2010.
Prior to the draft, three players were selected under the Father–son rule. Dylan Buckley, son of Jim was selected by , Andrew Bews' son Jed was selected by and Tom Mitchell, son of Barry was selected by . Buckley and Bews were secured with no rival clubs submitting bids, allowing Carlton and Geelong to each use its final draft selection for the father–son pick. submitted a first round bid for Mitchell, which Sydney was able to match, so, Mitchell was drafted with the 21st selection in the draft.