I vaguely recall the Crows getting a few whacks for selecting a teenager still in school from Victoria in 2007, instead of Brad Ebert..

Was that a failure?

No, because they selected Dangerfield.

Not really related to my point.

A failure is a failure, but what's worse? A failure that everyone else would've taken at that pick, or a failure that few or no-one else would've taken at that pick? What sits better in the gut?

I doesn't exonerate them, but it's less damning than players who were surprise selections. That is what sets apart a selection like Cook who was a surprise selection on top of being a complete bust. So essentially a failure on all possible fronts.

All Australian under 18 CHF? Yep a surprise.

Not really related to my point.

A failure is a failure, but what's worse? A failure that everyone else would've taken at that pick, or a failure that few or no-one else would've taken at that pick? What sits better in the gut?

I understand what you are saying, but I would stop at the 'failure is a failure' point.

I think the whole 'we picked who others said we should pick' is a bit of a comforting blanket we hide under to make the noise go away...

I understand what you are saying, but I would stop at the 'failure is a failure' point.

I think the whole 'we picked who others said we should pick' is a bit of a comforting blanket we hide under to make the noise go away...

Jeremy Howe is the pick I like.

Although he was on the radar - he was consider a speculative pick at best - possible to go very late in the draft or even rookied.

We went against "popular wisdom". We liked what we saw and took him earlier than expected.

I think the whole 'we picked who others said we should pick' is a bit of a comforting blanket we hide under to make the noise go away...

And I agree with you to that extent. But there is a lesser of two evils about it for me.

All Australian under 18 CHF? Yep a surprise.

Pick 12 came as a surprise to many. His own manager thought he'd be taken around pick 30. So yeah he was an U18 AA but that doesn't automatically lock you in for a pick around the top ten.

Just an example anyway, not central to what we're discussing.