AFLW player movement is upon us, with the Priority Signing Period opening on Wednesday 1 March.

After that, the Sign and Trade Period will kick off, meaning Hawks fans could be meeting a few new faces over the next couple of weeks. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is the Priority Signing Period?

The Priority Signing Period (PSP) is a window before the traditional Sign and Trade Period that allows us and the other three expansion clubs (Essendon, Port Adelaide and Sydney) to sign PSP players without a trade.

Who are PSP players?

PSP players are those who have completed three or more AFLW seasons. This includes players who have been inactive for a season.

How many players can Hawthorn sign during the PSP?

We can sign up to three players.

What else can we do in PSP?

We can also offer a ‘Secondary Relocation Reimbursement/Payment’ to players we’ve signed during PSP.

Can we get three players from the same club?

This part’s a bit tricky. For clubs that finished first to fourth on the ladder in Season 7, no more than five players are able to be lost through PSP. Clubs that finished fifth to eighth can lose no more than two players while clubs that finished ninth to 18th can only lose one player. 

When does the PSP start and end?

The PSP begins on Wednesday 1 March at 9am and concludes on Wednesday 8 March at 2pm.

So what’s the Sign and Trade Period all about then?

Sign and Trade Period is a league-wide period, so all 18 clubs will be involved in trading as opposed to just the four expansion clubs.

How would Hawthorn be involved in the Sign and Trade Period?

So let’s say we sign three players during the PSP. If we want to sign any more players for the 2023 season, we would have to trade for them in the Sign and Trade period.

When does the Sign and Trade Period start and end?

The Sign and Trade Period will open on Friday 10 March at 9am and close on Monday 20 March at 3pm.

How is this all happening while a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is being negotiated?

The AFL and AFLPA worked out a Heads of Agreement (HOA) for the player movement period.