Struggling clubs circle prime contenders
THE AFL says clubs including Gold Coast will have to officially apply for priority picks next week as four battling teams talk to the league about special assistance.
St Kilda football boss Simon Lethlean confirmed this week the Saints were conducting informal talks with football boss Steve Hocking about some kind of assistance.
Lethlean was noncommittal about the Saints lodging an official request, with many forms of help available under the league’s unfettered powers.
Brisbane confirmed last week it would put in an official request after 17 wins in four years, with Carlton and Gold Coast also talking to the AFL.
The AFL Commission will make a decision on those selections at its meeting on Brownlow Medal day.
The Suns, Carlton and Brisbane have been perennial underachievers, while the Saints had won 23 games over the past two years before the disappointing four-and-a-half-win year.
Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle said last week the Blues didn’t actually apply for a priority pick when their powerbrokers presented to the AFL Commission recently.
An AFL spokesman said yesterday clubs would still need to officially put in a submission, despite the rules giving the AFL total discretion to hand clubs special assistance and priority picks.
“The clubs still need to formally apply in the form of a letter that sets out their case,” he said.
“It might be only a couple of pages setting out their reasons but they would have had conversations with the AFL prior to that.
“Once it’s in, the AFL executive will look at it and pass on a recommendation to the AFL Commission, who have the final call.”
The AFL has made clear it won’t hand clubs a pre-draft priority pick but might hand them a pick after the first 10 in the draft – the non finalists – or at the end of the first round.
It might also allow clubs special dispensation or access to state-league stars ahead of the draft.