MELBOURNE will know what compensation it can expect for James Frawley before the free agency period ends, if he leaves the club as a free agent.
AFL.com.au understands the League will provide clubs with an indication of compensation within 24 hours of them losing a free agent.
This will enable clubs to organise potential trades based on the draft picks they will have once the free agency period ends.
Compensation would be subject to change if the affected club recruits a free agent of its own during the free agency period.
Melbourne is hoping to receive a first round pick as compensation if it loses Frawley, but the AFL could also allocate a compensation pick at the end of the first round for the 2010 All Australian defender.
The decision is based on the age of the free agent and his new contract.
On Monday, the AFL rejected the Demons application for special assistance in the form of a priority pick.
Last year clubs had to wait until the end of the free agency period when an official announcement was made of the compensation being awarded.
Clubs were making educated guesses rather than being certain of what compensation it would receive.
This slowed trade activity as clubs waited for compensation to be officially awarded.
The free agency and trade period in 2014 has been shortened to 10 days, with the free agency period lasting from October 6-October 12.
The trade period will end just four days later on October 16.
Few free agents remain unsigned on the eve of this year's free agency period with the Western Bulldogs' Shaun Higgins the only restricted one yet to sign.
If Higgins chooses to leave for another club, AFL.com.au understands the Bulldogs would have some indication as to what compensation it was likely to receive while it considered whether or not the match the offer for Higgins.
Any offer made to a restricted free agent must be matched within three days of it being lodged with the AFL. If Higgins did leave the Bulldogs and the offer was lodged on the final day of the free agency period, they club could wait until October 15 before making its decision.
Other free agents yet to sign with their club are Carlton's Jarrad Waite and the Sydney Swans' Nick Malceski.
