THE BRISBANE Lions are certain to apply for a priority pick after winning just seven games over the past two seasons.
AFL.com.au understands making the application is firmly on the club's agenda as it seeks to find a new coach and head of the football department after finishing the season second-last on the ladder behind Essendon.
It's anticipated the merit of the club's application will be considered at an AFL Commission meeting held before the Brownlow medal count on the Monday of Grand Final week so a decision is made before the NAB AFL Trade Period.
The Lions need to lodge the application with the AFL football operations department seven to 10 days before the AFL Commission meets.
The club had an application for a priority pick rejected last season, but won just three games in 2016. On Monday, coach Justin Leppitsch was sacked after he managed 14 wins in 66 games in charge of the club.
Its average losing margin in 2016 was 60 points, and it conceded 130 points a game to the opposition. The Lions won just 17 quarters for the season, eight fewer than the bottom-placed Bombers, who have several stars returning from suspension in 2017.
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The Lions have now won just one of the two finals they have played since losing the 2004 Grand Final after winning three premierships in a row.
Melbourne has not played finals since 2006, but has played in three finals since 2004, and has also been granted a priority selection in the intervening years.
The Lions have not played finals since 2009, and not finished higher than 12th since. They did not finish above 15th in the three years Leppitsch was at the helm.
The Lions have not been awarded a priority pick since their premiership years of 2001-2003.
Priority picks are now awarded at the discretion of the AFL Commission under a secret formula that takes into account injuries, finals appearances, percentage and other factors after the system was changed in 2012.
No club has been awarded a pick under the new system, but the Lions would have qualified for a pick ahead of the first round under the previous system, having not won more than four games for two consecutive seasons.
The priority pick system was changed to remove any allegations of tanking being made against clubs at the foot of the ladder.
The Lions will have a strong case with just three top-10 draft picks on its list.
Although the Lions traded pick No.5 in 2014 to secure former Magpie Dayne Beams, who played just two games this year because of injury, and lost James Aish, who was pick No.7 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, to Collingwood, they have secured talent through its Academy.
It has also struggled to attract players who are now prepared to go to clubs closer to the top of the ladder for less than market rate.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said earlier this month the AFL expected the club to make an application: "I'm sure Brisbane will put it on the table and we'll address it then."
