Lions in box seat on Rockliff

BRISBANE would need Tom Rockliff to secure a long-term offer of more than $800,000 a year to be handed a first-round compensation selection if he left the club.

The Lions and Rockliff are in early discussions on a new contract, with Brisbane thrilled with his improved attitude and form.

But given Brisbane’s 18th placing on the ladder a firstround compensation pick for a departing free agent would also give the Lions the draft’s second overall pick.

It would be an amazing platform to springboard up the ladder for a club that already has Port Adelaide’s first-round pick this year.

But despite Melbourne receiving pick three for departing free agent James Frawley the AFL has since dramatically raised the bar on free agent compensation. The league adds the base contracts and additional service agreements of all players over 25 then puts them in order to determine where a player’s wage sits compared to others.

Only if it is nestled in the top 5 per cent of wages for players over 25 does a club get a first-round compensation pick.

In other words, Rockliff would need to be offered close to $1 million a year — an offer that will not come for a him.

Rockliff would be more likely to attract a secondround compensation pick, still attractive for the Lions given it falls immediately behind a pick likely to be at 18.