THE AFL Commission will meet at the end of September to discuss priority pick requests from Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, but there are no guarantees it will make a call before the start of the exchange period.
Although rival clubs believe it is paramount that a decision on the priority picks is made before trading opens on October 12, it is understood there has been no deadline placed on a resolution.
Carlton last week announced it was applying for a priority pick, saying it would help the club "improve quicker" as it goes through its rebuild.
The Lions have also put a submission to the AFL for an extra draft pick, having endured retention issues with top-end talent in recent years.
Under the AFL rules for special assistance, the League has discretion to hand out an extra draft selection to a club at any point in the draft – not just at the start as was previously the case under the priority pick legislation.
Melbourne applied for a priority pick in 2013 and 2014 after poor seasons, but was denied in both cases. The AFL made those decisions near the end of September, before the free agency and trade periods began.
Clubs say it is important that the League makes its ruling on the priority picks before the exchange period begins so recruiters are aware if picks will have slid down positions or remained unmoved.
Some suggest being pushed down the order by two spots in the early part of the NAB AFL Draft could change the view of a club whether it would be willing to trade a first-round pick or not.
The Blues, Lions and Gold Coast look set to have the most active presence in the early stages of this year's draft.
Carlton will look to gain an early pick for departing key position player Lachie Henderson, while the Gold Coast will trade Charlie Dixon and Harley Bennell.
The Suns already hold three picks inside the first 22 selections having activated their final compensation pick they acquired several years ago.
FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER
(1) Carlton
(2) Brisbane Lions
(3) Gold Coast
(4) Essendon
(5) St Kilda
(6) Melbourne
(7) Collingwood
(8) Greater Western Sydney
(9) Geelong
(10) Port Adelaide
(11) Western Bulldogs
(12) Richmond
(13) Sixth placed team
(14) Fifth placed team
(15) Fourth placed team
(16) Third placed team
(17) Grand Final runner up
(18) Premier
(19) Gold Coast end-of-first round compensation selection
