Rivals fume as Blues, Suns line up for priority picks

THE AFL Commission is expected to award struggling clubs Carlton and Gold Coast priority draft picks as well as exclusive access to mature-age talent at Monday’s pre-Brownlow meeting.

Rival clubs are set to furiously oppose the pre-draft access to state players as they would have wasted 12 months scouting players they will not be able to secure.

It means mature-age players — such as WAFL star Tim Kelly, taken by Geelong in 2017, and VFL revelation Bayley Fritsch, who was picked up the Demons last year — could be snapped up before clubs convene at the national draft.

There is a strong belief Carlton and Gold Coast will get a priority pick. St Kilda and Brisbane Lions appear less likely.

The priority picks will be placed either at the end of the first round of the draft or halfway through the first round.

The Blues appear certain to offer their priority pick to Adelaide in a trade for Mitch McGovern. Carlton’s preference is for an extra pick to help land McGovern while Gold Coast appears more focused on priority access to mature-age talent.

The Suns have done a lot of homework on Werribee forward Josh Corbett and clubs believe he could be signed before the draft. The 190cm North Warrnambool lad has excelled as a third forward this year and is rated at about a pick No.40.

“Are we going to get a refund on all the flights we’ve paid for to go and watch these guys?” a club’s list manager said yesterday.