THE BRISBANE Lions are open to trading their prized pick No.2 for two top-10 selections at this year's NAB AFL Draft.
The rebuilding club holds the second pick in the draft after narrowly avoiding this year's wooden spoon, but will weigh up the possibility of shifting back down the order to double their early picks.
List manager Peter Schwab told AFL.com.au trading out pick No.2 to 'split' their top-10 haul is "an option to consider".
Indicative draft order: What picks will your club take to the draft
Greater Western Sydney looms as the club most likely to be able to provide the selections if its bid to trade for Essendon's first pick does not come through.
Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro said on Thursday the club was more than likely to hold onto the No.1 choice, which will be the first time in the club's history it has held the top selection.
If the Giants are able to secure pick No.5 from Carlton as part of the deal that sends young defender Caleb Marchbank to the Blues, they could package that with their No.7 choice and send to the Lions for the No.2 pick.
The Giants are keen to get to the top of the draft to select a player before bids come on their highly rated academy duo Will Setterfield and Harry Perryman.
The Lions are believed to be attracted to the idea of two top-10 picks for their one selection with the chance it can fast track their rebound up the ladder.
The open nature of the top end of this year's draft pool means the Lions could potentially land two of their highest ranked players even with later picks inside the first 10.
The Lions have another high pick at their disposal as well after they were granted a priority pick at the end of the first round – currently No.19.
Chief executive Greg Swann confirmed on Thursday the club's first pick was on the table for the right deal.
Victorian pair Hugh McCluggage and Andrew McGrath are seen by clubs as the most likely No.1 contenders, having shot to the top of the draft with super consistent seasons.
Key dates for the NAB AFL Trade Period
But a group of other prospects, including small forward Ben Ainsworth, midfielder Will Brodie, ruckman Tim English, pacy midfielder Sam Petrevski-Seton, crafty left-footer Jack Scrimshaw and goalkicking midfielder Tim Taranto sit among the other top-10 contenders in an even field.
Gold Coast is expected to use its first selection at the draft matching a bid on classy academy product Jack Bowes.
Melbourne has traded aggressively in recent years to pick up multiple top-10 selections the past two years, with some clubs keen to follow that model of rebuilding.
The Demons collected pick three as compensation for losing free agent James Frawley in 2014 and chose Angus Brayshaw with the pick.
Last year they traded their first 2016 selection to add another top-10 pick to their existing choice, and grabbed Clayton Oliver and Sam Weideman with early choices.
