Greg Swann says Melbourne shouldn’t receive pick 3 as compensation for James Frawley

BRISBANE boss Greg Swann says Melbourne doesn’t deserve to receive pick 3 in this season’s National Draft as compensation for James Frawley.

Melbourne training at Gosch's Paddock James Frawley Picture:Wayne Ludbey.

BRISBANE chief executive Greg Swann believes James Frawley is not a top echelon player and Melbourne doesn’t deserve to receive pick 3 in this season’s National Draft as compensation for the free agent.

The Lions currently hold pick 4 in the draft after finishing 15th on the ladder at the end of this season, but they could be pushed back one spot should the Demons receive an early first-round compensation selection for Frawley.

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The All-Australian defender is yet to publicly state which club he would like to play for next season, however he has been linked with Hawthorn and Geelong. He has also met with Fremantle officials in Perth, but the Dockers’ hopes of attracting the disgruntled utility appear to be rapidly fading.

Swann said he wouldn’t protest to the AFL if Melbourne received pick three, but said the Dees would be receiving overs if they were handed pick 3.

“Melbourne have done a really good job of trying to sell the world that they’ll get pick three for James Frawley. That pushes us back to five and that has a bit of an effect on our ability to trade as well,” Swann told AFL Trade Radio.

“I know ‘Roosy’ said everyone he speaks to thinks that pick three is a fair pick, but we certainly don’t. We would’ve thought an end of first round would’ve been best for James.

“We’re talking pick three, it’s a massive pick in the draft. I would’ve thought that would’ve been reserved for top echelon players.”

If Melbourne received pick 3 for Frawley, it would be the earliest compensation pick ever handed to a club in free agency’s short history.

Frawley has been linked with Geelong, Hawthorn and Fremantle. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

This includes Hawthorn receiving pick 19 for losing Lance Franklin to Sydney and St Kilda being handed pick 13 for losing Brendon Goddard to Essendon, as well as the two first-round picks Geelong received for losing Gary Ablett to Gold Coast.

Frawley has finished seventh, ninth and eighth in Melbourne’s past three Best and Fairest counts in which they finished 16th, 17th and 17th on the ladder at the end of the season.

Originally published as Greg Swann says Melbourne shouldn’t receive pick 3 as compensation for James Frawley