Brisbane Lions don’t want to finish last even if it means missing out on No.1 draft pick

BRISBANE and North Melbourne may be playing for the wooden spoon and No.1 draft pick, but Sydney and Port Adelaide could also determine where the Lions finish should they win.

Des Headland was Brisbane’s last No.1 pick.

SYDNEY and Port Adelaide aren’t just trying to force their way into the top four on the weekend – they will also be shaping the order of the draft.

While Brisbane v North Melbourne at the Gabba on Saturday is being billed as the battle for the wooden spoon, the Lions could jump four places with a big win.

Brisbane is last, equal with the Kangaroos on 20 points but with inferior percentage.

SUPERLADDER: TOP EIGHT, WOODEN SPOON NOT SET

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Gold Coast is in 16th and Carlton 15th on 24 points, separated by a percentage point.

Sydney hosts the Blues and the Power the Suns on Saturday.

The two sides sit a game behind Richmond in fifth and sixth and will not know until the Tigers play on Sunday if they can jump them into fourth and the coveted double chance in September.

There is very little percentage separating Port Adelaide and Sydney and the instructions from both coaches will surely be to keep their feet on their opponent’s throats and try to score as heavily as possible in case the Tigers lose.

Brisbane selected Hugh McCluggage with pick three last year. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane is confident of beating the Kangaroos by a decent margin and if the Swans and Power are also big winners, the Lions can leapfrog Carlton and the Gold Coast.

The Gabba match has been billed as the Cam Rayner Cup in some quarters after the potential No.1 draft pick, but Lions insiders feel he may be a flight risk and there are no guarantees they would choose him were they to lose.

The Kangaroos have never had a No.1 draft pick with Daniel Wells, who was pick No.2 in 2002, their highest selection.

Brisbane’s last No.1 was Des Headland in 1998. In 2015 they selected Josh Schache with pick No.2 and last year Hugh McCluggage with No.3.

CEO Greg Swann said winning the game by the biggest margin to generate momentum into next season far outweighed the potential cost of sliding down the draft order.

He said history had shown there were plenty of great players who were overlooked for the top selection.

THE POTENTIAL TOP FIVE

Cam Rayner – midfielder, Western Jets

Luke Davies-Uniake – midfielder, Dandenong Stingrays

Adam Cerra – midfielder – Eastern Ranges

Paddy Dow – midfielder – Bendigo Pioneers

Jarrod Brander – key position, Bendigo Pioneers