NEW ESSENDON CEO Ian Robson says his club is interested in drafting Luke Ball, but believes the AFL needs to address the situation surrounding the former Saint's nomination.

Ball has entered the NAB AFL Draft after failing to come to terms with St Kilda, but he and his management have so far declined to speak with clubs.
 
Trade week almost saw a last-minute deal done that would have sent the onballer to Collingwood, his preferred destination.

But the deal fell through, leading to the Saints rescinding their earlier three-year offer and putting Ball on the open market.

The AFL has strict rules regarding tampering with the draft and, while Robson did not suggest any had been breached, said the circumstances of Ball's nomination demanded scrutiny.

"For any player who has nominated for the draft to then say he's not willing to talk to any club, I think that's an issue for the AFL to contemplate and manage," Robson said.

"Luke's in the game now - from the moment pick one gets shouted out, he could be taken by any particular club.

"There are a number of clubs who are in front of us, and there may be some eager clubs behind us in the draft.

"He's very much in our thinking."

Ball would be valuable for the Bombers, considering he would bring 142 games of experience into a side that has lost veterans Matthew Lloyd, Scott Lucas and Adam McPhee.

"We've got four picks before the end of the second round and we're excited by that," Robson said.

"We're excited by the four young men who could join us and he may well be one of them."

Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss said earlier in the week that the Lions were interested in Ball regardless of whether they spoke to him, or if he was interested in moving to Brisbane.

Robson endorsed Voss's view, calling them "refreshingly frank".

"[Ball's] nominated, like I think about 50 other players who were on lists have and all of those are under consideration," he said.

"We start calling out names of players who will join our club from pick 10, and if he's still available there, he comes under consideration.