So only the topic that interests you should be discussed on the board? Just the one thread. Your outrage.....yawn
Prediction The Matt Crouch 2017 All-Australian Thread
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So only the topic that interests you should be discussed on the board? Just the one thread. Your outrage.....yawn
I'm hopeful of seeing a Crouch resurgence and getting another 60-80 games from him to get him to 200.https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/spor...s/news-story/965ea2747986aaa970ff8a56cb776958
Matt Crouch has been awarded life membership of the Adelaide Crows
For much of 2023 it was assumed Matt Crouch would not be at Adelaide in 2024. First, he broke back into the side then won a new contract, now he finds his place in Crows history.
When Matt Crouch was drafted by Adelaide from country Victoria 10 years ago he “definitely wouldn’t have envisioned” eventually becoming a life member of the Crows.
For most of last year few expected Crouch to be at the club in 2024.
But Crouch was rewarded for his resilience by earning a new contract at the Crows after breaking back into the side last year.
And on Wednesday night he was awarded life membership of the Crows.
“It is something I definitely wouldn’t have envisioned when I came over here 10 years ago,” the 28-year-old midfielder said.
“To be awarded with life membership of this footy club it means a fair bit to me and I’m really honoured.
“Yeah I remember coming into the footy club and you talk to experienced guys and they talk about how footy is full of ups and downs and that has been the case.
“I’ve had some great times at the footy club and there have been some times when it is quite of a challenge.”
Crouch with fiance Ellie Symons and daughter Ava. Picture: Kelly Barnes
As well as being out of the side for much of the last two years, making 18 AFL appearances across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Crouch also had to overcome not playing a senior game in 2021 because of groin issues.
He said fiance Ellie and baby daughter Ava were key in his ability to overcome the recent challenges.
“It has been amazing having the little one in the world, she has been amazing for us,” he said.
“It does take your mind off footy and make you realise that there are bigger things than footy in the world and it gives you a bit of perspective.”
Crouch – who met both the 10-years’ service and 100-game qualification – was one of five past and present players, coaches and officials who became a Crows life member at Morphettville Racecourse.
AFLW premiership coach and former player Matthew Clarke, long-time administrator Phil Harper, former player and coach Matthew Wright and veteran physio Mark Nagel also received life membership.
It followed on from premiership captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall becoming the first AFLW players to be awarded life membership of the Crows in December.
Crouch said the challenges he had to overcome over the past three years made his life membership all the more sweeter.
“It does make it a little bit better and a bit special in terms of the times I’ve been through and the ups and downs of footy,” he said.
“That’s true how it can change, but I’m looking forward.
“Our list and our club is in a really strong position and I am really excited about what this group can do this season and beyond.
“I think that is part of what you have to deal with as an AFL footballer, I think there is going to be challenges at times and it is about how you respond to those that defines your character and who you are.
“And I’m quite proud of how I have been able to fight through some challenging times and hopefully I can play some good footy and the team can improve again.”
Frozen out of the side for most of the 2023 season, Crouch played the final six games of the season for the Crows – averaging just over 29 disposals per game.
This led to a new two-year contract with the Crows, when it appeared that his future was away from West Lakes.
Now firmly entrenched in the Crows starting midfield again, the 2017 Malcolm Blight Medallist and All-Australian said he was excited about what Matthew Nicks’ side could do in 2024.
The Crows take on West Coast on Saturday in their pre-season game with a big focus on stoppage after lowering their colours to Port Adelaide in match simulation last week.
“We played some good footy in patches but there is a fair bit we can improve on,” Crouch said.
“There’s some stoppage stuff that we can improve on this week and going into Round 1, there were some really good signs from guys and we played some good patches of footy but there are some things that we have to work on ahead of Round 1.
“We have looked at that this week, some things that we are going to tweak and get right and improve on.”
Against the Power exciting small forward Izak Rankine spent a lot of time around stoppages, with the Crows coaching staff keen to get his speed and class in the engine room.
Crouch said he was excited at what Rankine could bring.
“Ranks is obviously a quality player … he gives us a different dynamic and a different look there,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to having Ranks in there and giving him the ball when I can, he is really sharp and gives us some energy as well.”
Plus a couple of flags to go with it.
Can we as a supporters group perhaps tip or collective hats towards Matt for his effort to become what the team needed?
I know he has his haters (we’re hunting Wabbits) but can the rest of us acknowledge how well he has turned it around?
He is now very important to our midfield, such good hands, so strong over the ball. He allows us to play different players around him … and he seems to be working hard both ways (sorry to bring that up Brad)
Hell, he even kicked a goal last week!
For me, he gets a lot of credit.
I know he has his haters (we’re hunting Wabbits) but can the rest of us acknowledge how well he has turned it around?
He is now very important to our midfield, such good hands, so strong over the ball. He allows us to play different players around him … and he seems to be working hard both ways (sorry to bring that up Brad)
Hell, he even kicked a goal last week!
For me, he gets a lot of credit.
His drop in form post Grand Final was a combinations of injuries, playing in a poor team and having a midfield mix that was too one paced that exposed him
With the engine room around him now he can play to his strengths and it's working wonders
With the engine room around him now he can play to his strengths and it's working wonders
Can't think of anyone who ever had it, lost it and regained it quite the same way, particularly given the absence of serious injury issues.
Reflects very well on him.
Reflects very well on him.
I think his Groin injuries were actually serious.
- Aug 9, 2019
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He did miss a whole season (2021) with groin issues that eventually led to a hip issue when he tried to play and train "juiced" up. Not great player management. Surgery required for both issues and then some serious rehab before he played again.
Nick Riewoldt gave him a nice wrap up on channel 7 tonight.
He said he thought Crouches career was over a few years ago, and he's happy with how Crouch has put his head down and fought his way back into playing good footy.
He said he thought Crouches career was over a few years ago, and he's happy with how Crouch has put his head down and fought his way back into playing good footy.
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I still maintain that if we had played Crouch earlier than what, round 18 or 19 or w/e it was, we would have made finals in 23.
He was showing his turn-around in the pre-season games, and those paying attention like yourself could tell.
100% Nicks had placed a line through his name back in 2022. I genuinely think he wanted Crouch gone. He was our only bull and Nicks was willing to sacrifice centre clearances to prove a point. Of all the inexcusable **** ups from Nicks this was a doozy and a horrible misread from a coach.
He was the scape goat for the midfields lack of pace.
There's two things in football, speed of the player and speed of the ball. Matt is elite at quick balls out of congestion via hand, and quite good at finding a player by foot. He has a pretty quick football brain, and know how and where to get the ball. There's a reason he gets 30+ every week and others maybe get it 20.
You can't replace that ability.
Now there are quicker options around him that can carry the ball away from the stoppage, either by themselves or from him, he fits like a glove.
He is a good bloke and deserves to be a 200 game player for our club.
There's two things in football, speed of the player and speed of the ball. Matt is elite at quick balls out of congestion via hand, and quite good at finding a player by foot. He has a pretty quick football brain, and know how and where to get the ball. There's a reason he gets 30+ every week and others maybe get it 20.
You can't replace that ability.
Now there are quicker options around him that can carry the ball away from the stoppage, either by themselves or from him, he fits like a glove.
He is a good bloke and deserves to be a 200 game player for our club.
Out of the wilderness and into the coalface, this Crow is absolutely flying
Matt Crouch was on the scrapheap two years ago. Now, he's among the best stoppage players in the AFL
www.afl.com.au
Since getting a senior recall to cover Laird's injury in late 2023, and managing to grab himself a last chance contract when most of us (inc me) thought he was done
I reckon the reason he got dropped was because he was so slow to move the ball on after a mark or free. He got that hesitation out of his game with his stint in the 2s.
He is much better for our balance with faster players around him.
On SM-A256E using BigFooty.com mobile app
He is much better for our balance with faster players around him.
On SM-A256E using BigFooty.com mobile app
- Aug 9, 2019
- 39,635
- 67,723
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Panthers, GWV Rebels, Central Augusta
My mail was that they wanted him to do more outside the contest, the trouble was that took away from his game his number one wood his ability to find the ball in bunches in tight and feed it out to players with speed and penetration. The big problem there was we didn't have those players around him to take advantage of his 1st take ball winning talents. You only need to see how effective these type of players can still be when surrounded by the right mix of mids, i.e Liberatore, Macrae etc.
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