The 2012 NAB AFL Draft Combine commenced at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, with 114 participants put through their paces until Friday so clubs can get an in-depth look at their potential to play AFL.

Testing will measure athletic attributes, such as speed, agility and endurance along with refined drills to assess football skills.

Saints.com.au will keep Saints supporters up to date with the latest news over the trade and draft periods and will bring you exclusive interviews with St Kilda’s newest recruits when the deals are done.

The 2012 NAB AFL National Draft will be held on the Gold Coast on Thursday 22 November, while the NAB AFL Rookie Draft will be held on Tuesday 11 December.

With the Free Agency period commencing this week and the AFL Trade Period kicking off next Monday 8 October, Draft prospects over the coming month will be the main focus for the AFL.

Following the 2012 AFL Grand Final, the AFL has released an indicative order of selection for the National Draft, however the trading of players will alter the clubs’ pick order.

GWS Giants will have first selection in the National Draft, followed by Gold Coast Suns and Melbourne, while St Kilda’s first selection will be pick number 12.

A number of clubs have opted to activate their compensation selections after players moved to the Gold Coast or GWS , which has altered the Order of Selection with a total of 22 first round selections (Sydney as the premier team having this final round one selection) and a further selection after the first round, prior to the commencement of round two.

St Kilda’s initial Order of Selection following the Grand Final and prior to any trade periods is:
•    Round One - Selection 12 overall?
•    Round Two - Selection 34?
•    Round Three - Selection 53
•    Round Four - Selection 71
•    Round Five - Selection 89?
•    Round Six - Selection 107
•    Round Seven - Selection 125

The Saints will be notified of eligible compensation for players traded to other clubs at the conclusion of the AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period on October 19.

See below for a list of key dates for the 2012 off-season:

2012 KEY DATES - FREE AGENCY, TRADE AND DRAFTS

October 1 - Commencement of Gillette AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency period??

October 5, 2pm - Nomination of Father-Son Eligible Players and Academy Bidding Players??

October 8, 10am - Father-Son Eligible Players and Academy Players Bid Meeting??

October 8 - Commencement of Gillette AFL Trade Period??

October 19, 2pm - Deadline for GWS Giants to pre-list balance of any uncontracted players under List Establishment rules

October 19, 5pm - Close to Gillette AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period??

October 22 - Restricted Free Agency Matching Offer Response Closed??October 23, 5pm - Trade Incentive Rule (17 year-olds) Deadline for Trading

October 26, 2pm - End of Gillette AFL Trade Period

October 26, 2.10pm - Trade Incentive (17 year-olds) Selection??

October 31, 2pm - List Lodgement One??

November 1 - Commencement to Gillette AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period??

November 13, 2pm - End to Gillette AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period

November 13, 2pm - Out of Contract Listed Player Draft Nomination Deadline, New Player Draft Nomination Deadline??

November 13, 2pm - Deadline for Nomination of any use of 2012 GWS Giants Compensation Selections??

November 15, 2pm - List Lodgement Two

November 16, 2pm - Delisted Player Draft Nomination Deadline, Non-Retained Rookies Draft Nomination Deadline, Nominated of Queensland Zone Priority Selections and Nomination of NSW/ACT Zone Priority Selections??

November 22 - NAB AFL Draft, Gold Coast Convention Centre??

November 23 - Second Gillette AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period commences??

November 28, 2pm - Out of Contract Listed Players Nomination Deadline, International Players Nomination Deadline, Players Not Registered / Played Three Years Deadline, NSW Scholarship and International Scholarship Players Deadline.??

November 28, 5pm - Second Gillette AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period ends

November 29, 2pm - List Lodgement Three??December 4, 2pm - Delisted Player Nomination Deadline??

December 4 - Deadline for GWS Giants to pre-list balance of any previously listed or previously nominated for draft players under List Establishment rules

December 11, 11am - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft??

December 11, 11.05am - Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants and Sydney Swans Eligible Pre-Selected Rookies??

December 11, 11.10am - NAB AFL Rookie Draft