The 2012 AFL Draft contained a free agency trade provision for the first time.

Fremantle was the first club to lodge a bid for a free agent when the put in a four-year offer to recruit Danyle Pearce from Port Adelaide.

[3] As a restricted free agent, Port could have matched Fremantle's offer, but chose not to.

[6] On 20 November, two days before the National Draft, McPhee announced that he was retiring to return to Victoria and Anthony was delisted, despite having a year to go on his contract.

The Doig Medal was awarded at a function at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre on 16 November.