AFL scouts raiding rugby league carnivals in Queensland Lachlan Keeffe of Collingwood was spotted during a Queensland talent search. A NEW threat has emerged in the battle for the most prized junior rugby league players in Queensland: AFL clubs. Essendon, Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions have begun exploiting a loop hole in their code's draft system by targeting the best athletes in the mid-teens from rival codes. The last thing the struggling Brisbane Broncos need is more competition for young talent. It is understood that before the recent under-18 state league carnival in Kingaroy, several player managers received calls out of the blue from AFL development officials insisting they would be able to offer better contracts for the best talent available. One of those clubs interested in the carnival's talent was the Lions. AFL clubs are heavily restricted in how they can develop and monitor the best Aussie rules talent and there are tight laws regarding contact between club and player before the national draft. However, those rules only apply to registered Aussie rules players. If a gun athlete is a league player then the likes of the Lions can sign him immediately and begin training him up in their academy. Brisbane Broncos talent Joseph Forrester is set to switch to the AFL for next season with several clubs circling the rangy 20-year-old centre. Velocity Sports is one of a handful of management companies linking league juniors to AFL clubs. "We have been told by a few AFL clubs to pass on information and contact details of league athletes who may be suited to AFL," Velocity's Shaun Pyne said. They are targeting carnivals now which is a new step. They want the best athletes full stop and in Queensland that means targeting the carnivals. An AFL club scout who asked not to be named said the move was designed to flout draft rules. The scout said in the future the best teenage AFL prospect may not be found in the draft. "There's a lack of talent coming through the traditional AFL states and in Queensland league is the number one code with most of the best athletes," the scout said. They sign a 14-year-old league star who is long and athletic, let him keep playing league but also bring him into their academy for opposed sessions and training in Aussie rules. Essendon are doing it best at the moment through their James Hird Academy. This way they have kids signed without needing to worry about the draft. Ex-Gympie soccer star and now Collingwood player Lachlan Keeffe is so far the best example of the new system. Keeffe is regarded as Collingwood national recruiting manager Derek Hine's greatest success story. Spotted during a Queensland talent search, Keeffe had barely watched AFL or touched a Sherrin before joining Collingwood and he eventually debuted in 2011.