THE AFL Commission has knocked back Richmond's request to rookie-list injured defender Graham Polak.
Richmond wrote to the League last Wednesday, seeking to demote the 24-year-old to its supplementary list as he recovered from head injuries sustained in a tram accident in June.
With Polak's move, the Tigers would have had room for a second selection in Tuesday's NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft.
They were expected to use the extra pick as a lifeline for former West Coast captain and 2005 Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins.
But again, Cousins' plans of returning to the elite level are in the balance.
Richmond president Gary March said on Friday that if his club had just one selection in the pre-season draft it would use it to recruit a young, untried player.
The Tigers have the last selection in the pre-season draft, following Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Carlton and the Brisbane Lions.
League chief executive Andrew Demetriou said that Richmond could instead upgrade a rookie-listed player to its senior group and have Polak on its long-term injury list.
Two years ago, the Commission gave permission for Essendon to rookie-list 26-year-old midfielder Adam Ramanauskas as he battled cancer.
