DRAFT picks are the way to get the Brisbane Lions back into finals contention according to the club's CEO Greg Swann.
The Lions have been linked to a raft of established stars this season after they very active in last season's trade period but Swann told SEN it would not be treading the same path in 2015.
"We're going to go to the draft. We've got a young list," Swann said.
"We're just going to keep bringing in more young people and that is the way we are going to do it."
The patient strategy is considered the best way for clubs to rebuild.
The Lions are bottom of the ladder after winning just two games and well-placed to secure one of the draft's highly rated talls, Jacob Weitering or Josh Schache, while they also have access to academy pair Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood.
Swann rejected suggestions the club would be interested in Carlton speedster Chris Yarran, who the Blues dropped this week, and the Lions have also declared they are not in the race for out-of-contract Port Adelaide forward Jay Schulz.
The youth strategy is in contrast to the club's approach in 2015 when they secured Dayne Beams from the Magpie, Allen Christensen from Geelong, ex-Blue Mitch Robinson and Liam Dawson and Harris Andrews through the Lions Academy.
They did not have their first live selection in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft until pick 65 after using picks five and 25 in the Beams' deal, pick 21 for Christensen, and pick 44 and 61 on Dawson and Andrews.
The club is also hoping for a priority pick, but there has not been much industry support for the suggestion with many considering the Lions are underperforming given the talent on the list and the most important job is getting the culture right.
Swann also said the Lions were pleased that clubs would be allowed to trade future draft picks in this year's trade period.
The Lions might be beneficiaries of the rule change if players such as James Aish choose to leave the club at the end of the season with Swann admitting the flexibility would make it easier to get deals done.
"It will help free the market up and get a fair bit more movement happening," Swann said.
"There is going to be fair bit of skill involved with it."
