Dahlhaus, Suns in huge draft puzzle

THE Bulldogs’ compensation selection for departing free agent Luke Dahlhaus could be bumped back a few picks by the AFL Commission.

The Dogs expect to receive an end-of-first-round draft selection for Dahlhaus, who will join Geelong on a contract tipped to be worth about $2 million over four seasons.

If the Bulldogs receive an end-of-first round pick and the league also gives out priority picks at the end of the first round, the commission will decide which comes first.

“There is no defined order as to the placement of a compensation pick as against a priority pick, if both are put into the draft in the same position,” an AFL spokesman said. “That would be a ruling for the commission in their discretion.”

Carlton, Gold Coast, St Kilda and Brisbane are all considering priority draft pick applications.

The best the Dogs may get for Dahlhaus is an end-of-firstround selection at No.20, given Gold Coast decided to take pick No.3 as compensation for Tom Lynch. If West Coast free agents Andrew Gaff and Scott Lycett depart and earn the Eagles firstround selections, the Dahlhaus pick would then be No.22.