St Kilda, the Kangaroos and Brisbane are the chief beneficiaries of Carlton's draft woes, inheriting the selections to pick up the three standout youngsters at Sunday's AFL draft.

With Carlton stripped of its No.1 and 2 draft picks for salary cap infringements, the Saints moved into poll position for the AFL national draft.

It was the third straight year the club would have one or both of the top two picks in the draft, setting up a potential dynasty at the normally hapless club and putting pressure on coach Grant Thomas to deliver.

It seemed certain the Saints, Roos and Lions would use their early picks on Brendon Goddard, Daniel Wells and Steve Salopek, though precisely which player went to which of those clubs remained to be seen.

Goddard, a tall, skilled and adaptable midfielder likened by some to Essendon captain James Hird, split his 2002 between Melbourne's Caulfield Grammar and Victorian under-18 club Gippsland.

While undoubtedly he would be enthusiastic about whichever club he went too, there will be some regret for Goddard who had barracked for Carlton his whole life and up until Friday night believed he would fulfil his dream of playing for the Blues.

Wells, a supremely gifted player from West Australian club Peel Thunder, thrilled fans in the west this year, running second in the WAFL's Sandover Medal at just 17.

While he possessed electrifying talent, the Saints could be dissuaded from drafting him as they picked up a similar type of player in Xavier Clarke with an early pick in last year's national draft.

Salopek was an in-and-under midfield type from Victorian under-18 club Dandenong who had impressed judges with his cool play and ball use in the national under-18 championship this year.

He was a Saints fan who was likely to join Brisbane, who had traded for what was initially the number five pick by releasing Des Headland to Fremantle.

The Kangaroos got what was initially the number four pick from Richmond in a trade involving ex-captain Wayne Carey going to Adelaide and Adelaide's Kane Johnson going to Tigerland.

Richmond and Fremantle claimed they would never have traded the four and five picks had they known they would be transformed into the number two and three picks by Carlton's exclusion.

The consensus opinion that Goddard, Wells and Salopek were the standouts had prevailed for some time, thus persuading the Tigers and Dockers to trade the picks.

The league had received representations from both clubs with reports they would seek compensation for missing out on the super trio, but the AFL was unmoved by their argument.

The national draft was principally used to pick up the cream of junior talent, with any selections of AFL experienced players only likely with late picks.

Essendon could seek to cure its rucking deficiency with such a player - options including re-drafting discard Steve Alessio, or choosing ex-Swan Ricky Mott.

Carlton had been stripped of its first four picks in the draft but would still have five picks beginning at 45.

Given that the Blues were also locked out of the first round of the December draft - traditionally used for experienced players - they could use one or two of tomorrow's picks on discards.

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