Adelaide midfielder Matt Crouch says he is enjoying playing football again after a frustrating 2021 season.

Crouch underwent hip surgery during the off-season in 2020 and that led to an ongoing groin complaint which kept him on the sidelines for the entire 2021 campaign.

But with two practice matches under his belt, having featured against Brisbane and then Port Adelaide, the 2017 Club Champion says he is fit and eager for this season to kick off.

“It was great to be out there with the boys and play some footy,” Crouch said.

“Since having surgery at the end of the season, that’s really helped with the pain side of things and I’m feeling good again.

“I’m looking forward to this year.”

Speaking to the media on Monday, Crouch credited his teammates, coaches and the doctors for helping him get through both the physical and mental challenges of the past year.

“It was frustrating (last year) so I think you get an appreciation of being fit and healthy and playing and doing what you love,” Crouch said.

“It’s obviously a challenging time and guys go through it at different periods but the whole Club was very supportive and you can bounce off guys who have gone through similar things.

“I definitely had queries at times whether I’d get back to AFL level and play again so it’s good that I’ve been out there and played and I’ve proven to myself I’m right to go again.”

Although the results of the two scratch matches didn’t go the Crows’ way, Crouch said there were plenty of promising signs as the side edges closer to Round One.

“I think our intensity around the ball and our effort (against Port) was really good,” Crouch said.

“I feel like we’ve trained really well throughout the pre-season and we’ve worked on a lot of things.

“We are a young group and we are going to be developing throughout the season but we are looking forward to it.”

Adelaide’s 2022 campaign kicks off with a clash against Fremantle on Sunday, March 20 at 3.40pm (ACDT).

Silence the Siren.