Persuaded to join for a fresh period at the end of autumn (5,2)
I believe the answer is:
roped in
'persuaded to join' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a fresh period at the end of autumn' is the wordplay.
'a fresh' indicates an anagram.
'at the end of' indicates one should take the final letters.
The final letter of 'autumn' is 'n'.
'period' with letters rearranged gives 'ropedi'.
'ropedi'+'n'='ROPED IN'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for roped in that I've seen before include "like boxers after entering the ring?" , "Obliged to participate" , "Persuaded to join" , "Unwillingly involved in" , "reluctantly enlisted" .)