2017 Rookie Draft
by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Just days after the national draft, the AFL held the rookie draft. It would also have the time for the preseaon draft, but all 18 clubs notified the league that they were not going to participate in the preseaon draft so there was none. Just as the draft, again it is club club with the selection number followed by the player's name, (club of origin), height, weight, position and a brief about the player. Some players have no selection number ahead of their names. Those players were prenominated by the clubs as Category B and/or Next Generation Academy nominations. The NGA is another program for junior players to progress and train, with the clubs aiming to draft those players. Clubs selecting Category B (international or unregistered) or NGA rookies do not have to use a selection on those players.