Old I've only been critical in relation to the MD.

The fact is this was our main focus, we had a strong hand and we came home with nothing.

If Crouch is as good as Harrington and others have suggested (i.e. a top 5 draft pick and an elite midfielder), then I would have been happy dealing a compo pick and pick 12 for Crouch without pick 25 in return.

i'm not cursing the club, but we should have gone harder at the main prize. G.C was in the box seat because they made their offer first? big deal..... put up the the 3 first round picks and try and get a little change.

O'meara will be elite.

I have a feeling Sheeds wouldn't have dealt with us anyway. Even if we did get in first and had the best offer. I know that sounds ridiculous, but hey we're dealing with the gimp Sheedy here.

Old I've only been critical in relation to the MD.

The fact is this was our main focus, we had a strong hand and we came home with nothing.

If Crouch is as good as Harrington and others have suggested (i.e. a top 5 draft pick and an elite midfielder), then I would have been happy dealing a compo pick and pick 12 for Crouch without pick 25 in return.

Fair enough. Harrington did refer to "elite 17 year olds"

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/124846/default.aspx

“If it was to be successful and we did get one of those selections, then we’d get one of the elite 17 year olds in the AFL drafting system to add to our already talented young batch. That will be a real focus area for us.”

What does "elite" really mean - I agree that if Crouch is a top 5 prospect I'd have spent both picks on him.

I agree that if Crouch is a top 5 prospect I'd have spent both picks on him.

I'll back the club's judgment. No doubt Prendergast would have had a major say on our decision. There's much water to go under the bridge over the next 12 months and we may determine by next year's draft that two first round draft picks was over-paying. Remember, Watts was hardly on the horizon as a first round draft pick a year out from his draft. Much can change.

That said, I definitely would have given both up for O'Meara from my limited viewing and knowledge.

. Remember, Watts was hardly on the horizon as a first round draft pick a year out from his draft. Much can change.

Remember too that a year out from Jack's draft he was only a 16 yo and hadn't played TAC so its not surprising.

When Jack was drafted no1 in the ND it was the last year of 17YOs being allowed in the ND