MELBOURNE has applied to the AFL for a "special assistance" priority pick following its 64-point loss to Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
On Monday, Melbourne officially lodged its request with the AFL asking the AFL Commission to consider whether it qualified for special assistance given its circumstances.
The Demons have won just four games this season and look set to finish 17th on the ladder and gain the second pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
Despite its improvement under new coach Paul Roos it has scored six goals or fewer in four of its past six games and has put in several uncompetitive performances this season.
Under the priority pick rules introduced in 2012, the AFL Commission has the power to award priority picks on a discretionary basis.
Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson confirmed the club had lodged a submission but would not be commenting further.
"I can confirm that the Melbourne Football Club has today lodged a submission with the AFL for special assistance under 'Rule 19' for a priority selection in the 2014 National Draft," Jackson said.
"This is now a matter for the AFL Commission to consider and because of that, we won't be making any further comment."
If the AFL Commission decides Melbourne should get a priority pick it can determine where that selection occurs. The Demons are also in line for a compensation pick if James Frawley leaves the club as a free agent.
Its request will not be without controversy as the Demons have bungled several first-round draft picks since 2006 and were fined $500,000 after an investigation into tanking cleared the club of the offence in 2013.
The club has already used priority picks on Sam Blease (pick 17, 2008), Tom Scully (pick 1, 2009) and used first-round draft picks since 2007 on Cale Morton (pick 4, 2007), Jack Watts (pick 1, 2008), Scully and Jack Trengove (pick 1 and 2, 2009), Lucas Cook (pick 12, 2010), Jimmy Toumpas (pick 4, 2012) and Christian Salem (pick 9, 2013).
It also traded its first-round pick in 2011 to the Brisbane Lions for Mitch Clark and traded pick 3 to gain access to Jesse Hogan in the mini-draft in 2012.
It also traded pick 2 to Greater Western Sydney for Dom Tyson and pick 9 in 2013.
Melbourne has not made the finals since 2006 and has won just 38 games of a possible 174 in almost eight completed seasons since the start of 2007.
According to statistician Josh Kay, Melbourne been placed in the bottom two on the ladder after 98 of 179 rounds played since the start of 2007.
The highest it has finished during that time is 12th in 2010.
