List Manager David Noble says the Crows would love to recruit another 17-year-old in October’s GWS ‘mini-draft’, but admits the Club is unlikely to be able to satisfy the Giants’ demands.

Adelaide secured promising midfielder Brad Crouch, as well as Norwood utility Luke Brown, in a deal with Greater Western Sydney last year. In exchange, the Club sent its first-round pick (No.10 overall) and the compensation pick received for ex-defender Phil Davis, to the Giants. Gold Coast also took advantage of the 17-year-old trade incentive, earning the rights to West Australian Jaeger O’Meara.

Like O’Meara, Crouch is ineligible for AFL selection this season. The 18-year-old from North Ballarat was permitted to play in the NAB Cup, making his Crows debut against the Brisbane Lions in Alice Springs. He’s spent the rest of the season training at the elite level and playing with SANFL club West Adelaide.

Click here to read Part Two of the Q&A with David Noble, and check out Part One here

GWS have the option of on-trading another two 17-year-olds this year. Exciting West Australian talents Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan are being touted as the most-sought after under-age players. Ironically, Brad Crouch’s younger brother Matt is also eligible for selection as part of the concession.

Noble said Adelaide had found the exercise of developing a 17-year-old within its own system extremely worthwhile.

“Talking to Brad, the benefit of being here for 12 months and doing all the ground work and preparation is huge. And from a Club perspective, it means you're able to control their development a lot better,” Noble told afc.com.au.

“They don't have the pressure of feeling like they have to play well to get into the AFL team right from the start. There's a bit of frustration with it, but they understand they just have to bide their time a bit more than other draftees

“If we could get into a deal for another 17-year-old, we would certainly consider it. We’d love to get another one. Unfortunately, I don’t think we'll have the capacity to do it this year just because of where our picks currently are.”

The compensation pick GWS received in the swap for Crouch and pre-listed player Brown is attached to where Adelaide finishes on the ladder, and will fall immediately after the Crows’ first-round pick. Currently, that pick could be upwards of 18 factoring in the three clubs that have opted to activate first-round compensation picks in the 2012 AFL Draft.

“GWS have engaged the compensation pick we gave them for Brad,” Noble said.

“They probably felt we weren't going to go as well as what we have and that our first-round pick would be earlier, so it's all credit to us that we’ve played so well.

“Scenarios are changing on a weekly basis at the moment. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge and if the opportunity creates itself again, we'd have a go at another 17-year-old but unfortunately I'm not sure we'll have the value to satisfy GWS there."

Activated compensation selections to be used in the 2012 AFL Draft:

Western Bulldogs - round one selection (compensation for the loss of Callan Ward). To be taken in round one immediately after the 2012 selection of the club.

GWS Giants - round one selection (received from the Adelaide Crows in a trade, after compensation for the loss of Phil Davis). To be taken in round one immediately after the 2012 round one selection of the Adelaide Crows.

Melbourne - round one selection (compensation for the loss of Tom Scully). To be taken in round one immediately after the 2012 round one selection of the club.

Melbourne - mid round one selection (compensation for the loss of Tom Scully). To be taken in round one immediately after the round one selection of the ninth-placed club and before the round one selection of the eighth-placed club.

Brisbane Lions - end round one selection (compensation for the loss of Michael Rischitelli). To be taken at the end of round one immediately after the round one selection of the first-placed club.

Richmond - round two selection (received from Port Adelaide via the Gold Coast Suns in a trade, after compensation for the loss of Nathan Krakouer). To be taken in round two immediately after the 2012 round two selection of Port Adelaide.

Western Bulldogs - round three selection (compensation for the loss of Sam Reid). To be taken in round three immediately after the 2012 round three selection of the club.