First access to mature-aged recruits from state leagues, or a conditional priority pick that must be traded, are scenarios being discussed at AFL House to help Gold Coast, Carlton and potentially even St Kilda.

Carlton, Gold Coast and St Kilda are likely to apply for “special assistance” under rule 19 early next month, but a priority pick in its purest form might not be given by the AFL Commission.

Struggling AFL clubs are in need of help. Credit:AAP

The AFL executive is expected to recommend that the struggling clubs - which may or may not include St Kilda - be granted first access to state league players, so that the likes of Geelong sensation Tim Kelly end up at bottom clubs rather than premiership contenders. Under this proposal, which is considered likely, the bottom teams would be able to sign two players each from the state leagues.

In what would probably be a separate hand-out, the AFL executive is considering recommending priority picks to Carlton and the Suns, with consideration given to mid-first-round choices - likely to be picks 12 and 13 - after each non-finalist has had a selection. AFL football chief Steve Hocking said on the weekend the AFL had not ruled out the contentious early priority picks, which would potentially give the Blues and Suns the first five picks in the national draft (including a pick for Tom Lynch), though this appears less likely than later choices.