Lions may chase priority handout
THE Brisbane Lions haven’t ruled out asking for another priority pick.
Carlton this week stated it would not pursue an extra selection in this year’s draft despite languishing at the bottom of the ladder and meeting the AFL’s criteria for the concession.
The Blues have only won 25 of their past 98 games, but Blues CEO Cain Liddle said: “Putting our hand out is something I’m not comfortable with.”
The Lions were the first club awarded a priority pick under reformed rules in 2012, given pick 19 in 2016. They asked for another one last year, but were knocked back.
Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann said the Lions would have no hesitation applying for compensation — if the results demanded it.
“We asked last year and the year before so if we think it’s valid, we’ll ask. We’re not worried about that,” Swann said.
“We’ll wait until the end of the year. We are confident we’ll get some momentum at the end of the year and if we do, the option of applying for that goes out the window.
“We were 18th last year, 17th the year before and the year before that. But it’s at the discretion of the AFL.”
Swann also moved to rubbish reports Lions star Dayne Beams wanted to return to Melbourne, saying neither the Lions nor Beams’ management were aware of any intention to leave.
Beams is under contract until the end of next year, but the Lions said the speculation had prompted them to ask some questions.
“We were surprised,” Swann told SEN radio.
“I haven’t spoken to him (Beams) but I actually rang his manager just to check. He was as surprised as we were and was actually quite angry about it so we’re pretty confident that’s got no substance to it.”
Beams last week stood down as captain indefinitely as he continued to deal with the passing of his father Phillip, with Dayne Zorko assuming the role. Swann said discussions about the role would be “ongoing”.
“Beamsy might be comfortable where he is at the moment or he might want to come back and do it,” Swann said. “If he wants to come back and do it then he’s the captain, but if not we just go on as we are.”