BRISBANE could ask the AFL for emergency draft assistance amid fears it will be left with the most threadbare list of the past decade.

The bottom-placed Lions are set to have only two top-20 draft picks remaining in their squad if midfielder James Aish and ruckman Matthew Leuenberger leave, as expected, at season’s end.

The Lions believe Aish will depart after meeting with Carlton chiefs in-season, while free agent Leuenberger is also being strongly considered by Geelong and Essendon.

The Lions are backing coach Justin Leppitsch but concede their list is severely lacking in top-end talent following the shock departure of five early draft choices in 2013 under former coach Michael Voss.

The loss of Aish and Leuenberger would mean seven players taken in the top 30 of the national draft would have quit the club within three seasons.

Brisbane officials will strongly consider making an application for a priority draft pick towards the end of the season after registering only two wins (against Carlton and Port Adelaide) from 15 games.

The AFL assesses requests for extra draft assistance based on clubs’ “on-field performance in recent years and any other matter the commission regards as relevant”.

Brisbane has played finals only once in the past 10 years in a rapid decline since Voss captained the club to premierships in 2001-03, stamping it as one of the greatest teams of all time.

The Lions declined to comment about a priority pick request on Tuesday but a source close to the club said it “just does not have the cattle”.

Brisbane has only four original top-20 draft picks, ranked last in the AFL.

Greater Western Sydney heads the talent stakes with a staggering 22 top-20 selections, ahead of Richmond and Carlton (15) and Port Adelaide and Geelong (14).

West Australian Daniel Rich and South Australian Sam Mayes will be the Lions’ likely two remaining top-20 picks following the exchange period.

But both are out of contract next season, with Port Adelaide known to have a strong interest in midfield-forward Mayes, while ball-winner Rich will be a free agent.

Brisbane’s lack of high-end talent raises further alarms about the club’s position after a new administration, led by new chief executive Greg Swann, took over a $13 million debt.

Carlton has had a plethora of prized first-round selections but has recently appointed a new talent chief, Stephen Silvagni, to help turnaround its poor draft returns.

The Blues are regarded as widely having the least talented list in the early to mid 2000s after it was docked top draft picks for salary cap breaches.

The Lions have repeatedly tried to re-sign out-of-contract Aish, but have been continually rebuffed by his management, Precision Sports, led by Liam Pickering.

The Lions are expected to welcome three prized academy selections in the next two years. They are big man Eric Hipwood, midfielder Ben Keays and tall playmaker Jacob Allison.

OUT OF THE LIONS DEN

2013

Jared Polec (No.5), Port Adelaide

Billy Longer (No.8), St Kilda

Sam Docherty (No.12), Carlton

Patrick Karnezis (No.25), Collingwood

Elliott Yeo (No.30), West Coast

TOP-20 DRAFT PICKS BY CLUB

GWS Giants 22

Richmond 15

Carlton 15

Port Adelaide 14

Geelong 14

West Coast 13

Collingwood 12

Essendon 12

Gold Coast 12

Hawthorn 12

North Melbourne 12

Fremantle 11

Melbourne 10

Adelaide 8

St Kilda 8

Western Bulldogs 8

Sydney 6

Brisbane 4

Source: Champion Data