Port Adelaide have seemingly cautioned Gold Coast against drafting top-five South Australian prospects Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine.
Power list manager Jason Cripps said the club would likely attempt to poach the highly-rated pair should the Suns select them with pick two and three in the upcoming draft.
“If Lukosius and Rankine end up going to Gold Coast … we’re probably pretty happy to try to get them back in a few years’ time,” Cripps told AFL Trade Radio on Monday.
“It’s interesting because then it just becomes a two-horse race between us and the (Adelaide) Crows, as opposed to a Victorian kid that wants to come back home whose potentially got 10 options.
“That’s part of the discussion and strategy, but right at the minute we’re really comfortable with pick six.”
The apparent caution comes as Gold Coast faces another retention crisis with the loss of Tom Lynch (Richmond), Gary Ablett (Geelong), Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn) and Dion Prestia (Richmond) over the past three trade windows.
Lynch’s fellow co-captain Steven May could also depart the club this off-season after being linked with a move to Melbourne or Collingwood.
Given the likelihood neither Lukosius or Rankine will fall to pick six, Cripps said the Power would have no concern picking from Victorian Metro trio Max King, Bailey Smith and Ben King.
“We’re happy with any of the Victorian boys. We’re going to back ourselves in,” he said.
“It’s quite interesting at the moment because we’ve traditionally been really strong with retention, especially with Victorian guys.
“We’ve actually got a little bit of a challenge at the moment. We’re losing some South Australians in Jared Polec and Chad Wingard, which is a little bit unique.”
The first round of the AFL draft will be held on November 22 in Melbourne.
Pelican
Roar Rookie
Bigger club than Saints, Roos or Dogs minnows might not the right word. Better to bring in a football club than a franchise any day. Draft picks haha that's funny
Badgunter
Roar Rookie
Didnt know it was the VFL anymore - thought they called it the AFL
Lroy
Guest
Dude, I don't think anyone except for the Gorilla thought these expansion teams were a good idea. Everyone knew they would just become feeder clubs for the rest of the league and plenty of people said so at the time. AFL decided to ignore it because the extra clubs meant more TV rights money and bigger bonuses for AFL executives, it was never about the greater good of the game. The Gorilla's chickens are coming home to roost.
Wise Old Elf
Guest
A clear case of draft tampering. Port should lose it's first two draft picks as punishment. Really nasty act by them. Only a few years ago a lot of Victorians were talking about the huge mistake in allowing in a minnow club like Port Adelaide into our league when they should have had a new composite club.
Gazzathecouncilworker
Guest
Gee this is getting to look more like the EPL everyday, five or six clubs getting all the players, dominate Corporate support, Media content all directed to them. AFL wanted teams in Southern Qld and west Sydney and they are just going to stand by and watch them get bled dry.
Papa Joe
Roar Rookie
That risk applies to virtually every player that GC draft. So it is not an earth-shattering comment; though it still smacks of disrespect and disdain. GC will just ignore it and draft the two players they consider to be the best fit for them. From where I sit (which is admittedly very distant) and from what I have read, I think they should take Lukosius and Rozee (assuming the Blues take Walsh) - and I hope they both become 12 year players for the Suns.
Fairsuckofthesav
Roar Rookie
So all those getting up in arms about SA players coming back to their home state seem to have forgotten about the number of Vic players coming back to that State. Gold Coast Gws exodus Cartlon anybody? All Port did was state the obvious. Mel based clubs have been doing it for years. Ask Sos.
Paul2
Guest
I think that's a little over the top. Still, a "please explain" is in order.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
A serious court of law would be able to tell the difference between a click-baity headline and the comments actually made.
Larry1950
Guest
Reckon an AFL with any guts should jump in & exclude Port from the draft this season or 2021 when they reckon they'll poach interstate drafted SA kids. Threats are as good as tampering.
Raimond
Roar Guru
In a serious competition, this would be seen as a straightforward case of draft tampering, and the Power would be looking at major penalties.