Toast Thanks Brad, Crouch Retires

[sauce_head]

Very frustrating the Club didn’t know this before the draft.

I’m pretty sure it was an open secret. If I knew, then almost everybody just have! Wasn’t he taken back on a rookie pick to give him every chance?

 

[Munga]

Very frustrating the Club didn’t know this before the draft.

Mate I knew back in March! I can spot a crippled knee a mile away, unfortunately...

What on earth is Crouch doing out there with a knee strapped? The guy is hobbling around, head down.

Wasn't Crouch done? His knee was fubar. Seemed negligent sending out there for Sandy.

 

[Parkysp]

Thanks Brad. Not long enough with us but you played well when your knee was good in 23 and helped our young guys coming through. If you help Hugo become a solid AFL mid as an assistant coach in 25 you'll be paying your way off field immediately.

 

[SteeleSaints]

All the best Brad you will be missed out there, but there is life after footy. Take care...

 

[austinnn]

Mate I knew back in March! I can spot a crippled knee a mile away, unfortunately...

Care to run your eye over Liam Henry?

 

[dudeintheswamp]

I've read both that he has signed as an assistant coach at Noble Park, and that he has signed on as an assistant coach at the Saints.

Anyone know which it is?

 

[marcus1232]

I've read both that he has signed as an assistant coach at Noble Park, and that he has signed on as an assistant coach at the Saints.

Anyone know which it is?

He could be doing both

 

[pebblesofsand]

Very frustrating the Club didn’t know this before the draft.

Initially I thought they were giving him every chance to get his knee right but clearly I got that wrong and its clear the club knew before the draft that he wasn't going to be playing next year.

So he was de-listed so that we had another pick in the draft (P Said), re-rookied so that he could be paid out of next years salary cap and then he retired so we could then take another player via the SSP.

And it looks very much like that player will be Harry Boyd.

Back to Brad Crouch - a very underrated part of out midfield and his loss last year cost us numerous games. Very disappointed to lose him - hope Macrae can get back to his midfield best and take over his role.

 

[BrutThough]

Thanks for every Brad. Frustrating way to end his career.

Was such an important part of our midfield, especially in 2023. HIs lost was hugely felt this year.

 

[sammm]

Very frustrating the Club didn’t know this before the draft.

I am sure the saints knew this.

 

[Scoop]

I've read both that he has signed as an assistant coach at Noble Park, and that he has signed on as an assistant coach at the Saints.

Anyone know which it is?

 

[L_W_P]

Didn't get anywhere near a clear run at either club TBH. He was part of the GWS 'mini draft' as a kid and was being hyper as the 2nd coming of Dangerfield.

I was legit pumped when we were getting him as a FA. Another inside bull to help out Captain Jack was (and still is) desperately needed.

Wish him all the best with everything going forward!

 

[Remboy]

I’m not sure I’ve heard him interviewed before. I thought He spoke really well.
Good luck Brad. Was an excellent pick up for us.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

Can't believe there are melts about this.
Sad end to a great career but in the end played well by the club to shed some salary cap.
Right move imo

 

[Cleric]

Brad was a really good player, and would have seen more success if it wasn't for his injuries.

I was upset when he left the club, and hopefully he has a great after football life.

 

[Banger9798]

He was a terrific recruit for us, and consistently top 3 at a tough time for the club. All the best Brad

 

[Plugger35]

Yeah he was one of our best FA recruits, a solid consistent midfielder for us, shit luck for both him and us his career was cut short.

 

[Sammy1992]

What exactly was the injury to the knee and why?

 

[BrutThough]

What exactly was the injury to the knee and why?

They've just stated it was a degenerative knee problem.


Some quotes from him today;

“I had never had a knee injury until the halfway point of 2023 and it’s amazing how quickly your knee can deteriorate if the wrong part of the knee is overloaded. I carried it through 2023 and had a clean-out at the end of 2023. It was lateral pain – the outside of the knee,” he told the Herald Sun.

“I had a clean-out and came back and then had a little stress fracture at the top of the fibula. And then I came back and had another ‘scope’ again and it kept getting worse.

“I got fit for round 1 (this year) but they were taking a lot of fluid out of it. At one stage I was getting 120ml drained and then I had another scope and then played three games in the VFL.

“We tried everything – anti-inflammatories, PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections, cortisone injections.

“It got to the stage where I started seeing specialists and the surgeon who did those scopes said once we start doing these it’s a slippery slope. It got to the stage where we were pushing shit uphill and I got three other opinions and they all suggested the same thing.”