CLUBS will not be able to trade draft picks any further than a year in advance during this year's exchange period, despite a push to further open up player movement.

Since 2015, AFL rules have allowed clubs to be able to trade future draft picks one year in advance.

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However last year it was raised to extend that to either two or three years, as list managers from around the competition hoped for even further flexibility to get deals done.

But the AFL has not moved on its rules, with the same set of guidelines to apply to this year's NAB AFL Trade Period despite a change being previously considered.

Clubs have put forward the argument that with more picks available to trade, it could allow bottom sides to rebuild quicker instead of taking several years to be regularly competitive.

"It would give us more chips in the hand to use, and the more we have the more likely we are to get deals done," one recruiter said.

But it's understood the AFL still has reservations about allowing clubs to trade their selections well into the future so that, if it goes wrong, it doesn't backfire in a way that hurts a club for the long-term.

For this reason, some clubs have raised the option of introducing pick protection for selections traded for drafts beyond a year in advance to safeguard against disaster deals.

It would mean, like in the NBA in the US, clubs are able to trade selections but 'protect' them if they finish low on the ladder and then recoup them.  

There are five picks in the first round of this year's NAB AFL Draft that are tied to other clubs' finishing positions, including the current No.1 choice, which Carlton traded to Adelaide during last year's national draft.

Greater Western Sydney holds Essendon's first selection, Carlton has Adelaide's, Gold Coast owns Brisbane's and the Lions hold Collingwood's first pick.

The AFL has locked in the dates for this year's draft, and will stage it at Marvel Stadium over two nights, Wednesday-Thursday November 27-28.

The first round of the draft will be held on the Wednesday night, before the rest of the draft resumes on Thursday night at 7pm local time.

The second day will start at night after feedback from clubs last year who worked into the late hours following the opening night before starting the next day around lunchtime.

The NAB AFL Rookie Draft will be held either on Thursday, November 28 after the national draft or on Friday, November 29 from 9am.