Hocking airs strategy to boost AFL cellar dwellers

UP to five struggling clubs could benefit from AFL help as speculation continues about priority picks in this year’s national draft.

Carlton, Gold Coast, St Kilda and Brisbane could all apply for priority picks at the November draft. But the league might also help struggling clubs source the right staff.

There is a school of thought that having the right people in key off-field positions is just as critical as sourcing top-end draft talent.

It remains unclear which clubs will apply for priority draft picks or whether the league will agree to the requests.

“There are up to four or five clubs, we need those clubs up and firing and winning games,” AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said.

“It’s good for everybody. We’re considering five clubs and potential support they require.”

Hocking also said that at the end of the season, the league would review Toby Greene’s raised leg against Nic Newman in last weekend’s qualifying final.

The AFL has already said Greene should have given away a free kick for rough conduct when he used his raised boot to fend off the Sydney defender in a marking contest.

“We stated that should have been a free kick and what we will do as part of the MRO (match review) at the end of the year is we’ll review how that is adjudicated,” Hocking said.