MELBOURNE coach Paul Roos is open to trading the club's first-round draft selection or any priority pick that may come its way at the end of this season.
On Monday, the club requested that the AFL Commission consider it for a priority pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
Melbourne's success in last year's trade period, including a deal that sent pick No.2, No.20 and No.72 to Greater Western Sydney in exchange for Dom Tyson and pick No. 9 (Christian Salem), has left Roos in favour of a similarly advantageous deal this season.
"I don't know what the rules are with (trading) a priority pick," Roos said at AAMI Park on Tuesday.
"But let's leave the priority pick out. Let's say if we had pick two, forget the priority pick, definitely pick two would be on the table again as it was last year."
Roos said Melbourne's application was based on almost eight years of uncompetitive performances, conceding it would be unfair if the club received special assistance for this season alone.
Roos said the club was still contemplating whether to retain its first-round draft pick (currently pick No.2), or make a play for an established player.
Vic Metro star and under-18 championships Larke medallist Christian Petracca is one player who fulfils Roos' desire to add "classy midfielders".
But Roos said Melbourne needed to look at innovative ways of improving its list, and receiving a priority pick would help.
Melbourne put in a submission for a priority pick last year but got knocked back by the Commission.
"I can understand the scepticism of clubs about all things equalisation," Roos said.
"Any time a club has a self-interest issue all the other clubs are going to blow up about it, which I think is perfectly normal."
Roos said he supports the club's decision to ask the AFL for its assistance, although he said he played very little part in discussions with CEO Peter Jackson.
His personal view, though, is that clubs should never allow themselves to get to that level.
"I think we all hope that clubs don't have to ask for priority picks," he said.
"But it's the chicken and the egg at the moment, which is the debate at the moment in the AFL. With the taxes and free agency, we're definitely in a new era."
