Former St Kilda star Brendon Goddard has criticised the Saints’ decision to add Brad Crouch to its list during last year’s free agency period, labelling the move “desperate”.
The 27-year-old midfielder joined St Kilda on a five-year deal last off-season after leaving Adelaide as a free agent and averaged 26.4 disposals per game in his first season with the Saints.
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However, Goddard said the addition of Crouch to an already veteran-laden playing list made little sense.
“I’m going to be really critical, I think they went too early and got a little bit desperate on Crouch,” Goddard told AFL Trade Radio.
“He’s a good player, but just in terms of what they actually needed and the balance through that midfield, you talk about Jack Steele, Jade Gresham, Zak Jones … Seb Ross, Crouch, the balance for mine is heavily weighted towards that inside, lack of run (type of player).
“I just felt like they got a bit desperate, they could have been more patient, they obviously felt like nothing was coming in the next couple of years.
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“If they had their time again, the Hawthorn players being thrown around (this trade period), you can arguably say Jaeger O’Meara would have fit that mould (that they need) if they held out on Crouch.
“Now they don’t really have any flexibility there unless they move on some of those players.”
Goddard believes St Kilda needs to recruit another key forward to support partner young gun Max King, with the club heavily linked to his twin, Suns star Ben King.
“We know that the King twins are on the radar in terms of the future for St Kilda, there are no certainties obviously around that,” he said.
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“A second key forward, a legitimate key forward, that’ll only complement what they already have and I think Tim Membrey will seriously blossom as that third key forward.”
After being busy over the last few years, St Kilda is yet to make a move in this year’s trade period and will head to the draft with picks 9, 62, 66, 67 and 85 in the draft.