In May 2021, just before the draft period began, the AFL Commission approved special draft and signing assistance to the Gold Coast, Geelong, West Coast, St Kilda and Richmond to support the strengthening of their playing lists in line with the competition's leading clubs.
As a condition of receiving assistance, the clubs were required to use at least five selections at the upcoming draft.
[3] In the absence of a rookie draft, each club was permitted to sign players that had not played Australian rules football within the previous three years or been involved in an AFLW high-performance program.
Following final list lodgements, a number of players experienced changing circumstances that made them unable to participate in 2022 season 6.
Clubs were granted permission to place these players on an inactive list, gaining end of draft selections to replace them for the one season.