List manager David Noble says Adelaide’s aggressive approach to trade week has paid off after securing five players the club had targeted prior to the exchange period.

In the past, the Crows have played only a minor role in trade week.

Last October, Adelaide successfully negotiated for promising ruckman Sam Jacobs and ex-Richmond recruit Richard Tambling, but prior to that the club had introduced two players - Brad Symes and Brad Moran - via trade week in the previous five years.

Trade requests from ruckman Ivan Maric, defender Tony Armstrong and homesick forward Jack Gunston prompted the Crows to entertain talks this year. 

Determined to capitalise on the situation, the club identified players who could fill a need at West Lakes and set about negotiating deals with rival teams.

Versatile talls Lewis Johnston and Tom Lynch, recruited from the Sydney Swans and St Kilda respectively, have been earmarked to fill key posts at either end of the ground, while former Essendon rookie Josh Jenkins will help fill the ruck void created by the departures of Maric (Richmond) and utility Brad Moran, who has retired.

Talented teenagers Brad Crouch and Luke Brown will add to the club’s midfield depth.

Noble said Adelaide entered the exchange period with a deliberate strategy.

“We had to take hold of and create opportunities with the players that were leaving, and make sure we covered some needs that had started to arise,” Noble told afc.com.au.

“We thought key defence, midfield and ruck in no particular order were the areas that raised their heads with Maric, Armstrong, Jack Gunston and Phil Davis (GWS) leaving and Scott Stevens and Brad Moran retiring.

“Some guys we targeted, or had a lot of discussions about in the six or seven weeks leading up to trade week we were able to get, so we’re extremely pleased from that side of things.

“And then to be able to secure Brad Crouch as part of that, we were extremely excited.”

Adelaide gave up pick No.10 in this year’s national draft and the compensation pick it received for Davis to secure Crouch from Greater Western Sydney in the 17-year-old ‘mini-draft’.

The Crows recruiting staff sat down and pieced together next year’s draft order before deciding what they were willing to give up for the North Ballarat midfielder, who was tipped to be among the top five selections in the 2012 draft.

“We had the support of Matt Rendell and Hamish Ogilvie, who worked out where players sat in both drafts (2011 and 2012), to help us make a clear judgement of what you were using your compensation selection for,” Noble said.

“That was essential to our strategy and full credit to those guys.”

Adelaide also obtained Brown as part of the deal with GWS.

The 19-year-old was overlooked at last year’s draft, but emerged as a probable first-round pick after a breakout season with SANFL club Norwood.

Coach Brenton Sanderson said he “couldn’t be happier” to have snared both Crouch and Brown.

“We definitely had Luke in our top 15 draft picks this year,” Sanderson said.

“He’s a beautiful kick and just suits what we need. Instead of sitting through the draft we were actually able to identify Luke and Brad Crouch and pick them up through GWS.”

Jenkins, 22, couldn’t break into the Bombers team ahead of tall trio David Hille, Paddy Ryder and Tom Bellchambers in his first season at the club despite good form in the VFL.

The former basketballer, who only returned to football last year, was courted by several clubs but chose Adelaide after meeting with Sanderson.

“We got Josh over to Adelaide and he just loved the place,” Sanderson said.

“I think we were third or fourth down his list because he was being chased a lot over this period, but we shot to the top pretty quickly.

“We were desperate to get him to support Sam Jacobs and Shaun McKernan.

“With Maric leaving, Josh is going to get opportunities almost straight away.”

There was speculation Queensland native Kurt Tippett would be traded to the Brisbane Lions, but Noble denied the key forward was on the table.

“Kurt was never up for trade,” he said.

“He’s a contracted player and that’s where that was at. That didn’t change throughout the week.”

Adelaide holds pick Nos.27, 41, 46, 64 and 89 in next month’s national draft.

Noble said the club would weigh up whether to hang onto one of the selections for the pre-season draft.

“I still think we need to consider keeping a pick in the pre-season draft as an option,” he said.

“We still probably need an additional genuine ruckman in either development, pre-season draft or maybe even in the rookie draft.”