MANAGER of football operations Josh Mahoney says pick two is unlikely to be a straight swap for a player at this stage.

Speaking to Gillette Trade Radio on afl.com.au, Mahoney said it was more than likely to be a combination of a player and a pick.

“Pick two is a valuable pick and we’ve just finished the Combine last week and there’s going to be some quality players at pick two, so we’re still open-minded,” he said.

“If the right deal is out there, we’ll definitely look at trading pick two and we’re still talking to a few clubs about the potential of it.”

“It still is a highly likely chance that we will trade it, but again, it’s not something that we’re going to be giving away for the sake of giving it away.”

Mahoney confirmed Melbourne had enquired about Brisbane Lions vice-captain Tom Rockliff. He said pick No.2 and ruckman Mark Jamar weren’t offered to the Brisbane Lions for pick No.7 and Tom Rockliff.

“We’re after midfielders and there was some speculation about [West Coast’s] Luke Shuey and Tom Rockliff and they were the type of players that we were very interested in at that pick two range,” he said.

“But both of those clubs have still got them as required players and wouldn’t be willing to deal.”

But Daniel Cross, who won the 2008 Western Bulldogs best and fairest, remains in the mix to become a Demon.

“He is [someone we’ll look at]. The process we’re at, at the moment, is that we’ll go through for the next couple of weeks and have a look at what our net result is with the players we bring in,” Mahoney said.  

“If we feel we haven’t been able to bring in the type of experience we wanted to bring in, well, Daniel Cross will still be a player we’ll look at.”

Mahoney also said dual premiership player Darren Jolly was unlikely to be considered at this stage.

“We think we’re well sorted in the ruck department,” he said.

Meanwhile, dual premiership player and Sydney Swans assistant coach Stuart Dew remains a leading contender for Melbourne’s senior assistant coaching role – a position that would succeed Paul Roos in two or three years.

“We’re continuing to go through our process. This is an extremely important appointment for the footy club – who’s going to be our next senior coach,” Mahoney said.

“Stuart was a candidate who presented extremely well and we’re working through with the Swans at the moment.”

Mahoney confirmed Leigh Tudor was not part of Melbourne’s senior assistant process.