No.1 goal remains winning, not draft

SYDNEY and Port Adelaide aren’t just trying to force their way into the top four on the weekend – they will also be shaping the order of the draft.

While Brisbane v North Melbourne at the Gabba on Saturday is being billed as the battle for the wooden spoon, the Lions could jump four places with a big win.

Brisbane are last, equal with the Kangaroos on 20 points but with inferior percentage.

Gold Coast are 16th and Carlton 15th on 24 points, separated by a percentage point. Sydney host the Blues and the Power the Suns on Saturday. They sit a game behind Richmond and will not know until the Tigers play on Sunday if they can jump them into fourth.

Brisbane are confident of beating the Kangaroos by a decent margin and if the Swans and Power are also big winners, the Lions can leapfrog Carlton and the Gold Coast.

The Gabba match has been billed as the Cam Rayner Cup in some quarters after the potential No.1 draft pick, but Lions insiders feel he may be a flight risk and there are no guarantees they would choose him were they to lose.