WITH Brad Crouch collecting 31 possessions and seven marks in the SANFL last week, the talented youngster will certainly be considered by selectors when Adelaide picks a team to take on the Lions for round two.
The 19-year-old was surprisingly left out of the Crows' round one side that faced Essendon, but veteran Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson says he expected to see Crouch in the seniors very soon.
Crouch, too young to play AFL in 2012, spent last season fine-tuning his game with West Adelaide. But he has now slammed his name onto the selection table after his impressive outing for the Bloods on Thursday night.
At 185cm and 84kg, Crouch is built in the same mould as the 184cm, 87kg Thompson, who said he was "keen" for his protégé to make his AFL debut.
"From the day he came into the club he was full of energy, wanted to ask questions from a lot of experienced players straight away, was harassing the coaches straight away trying to gain as much game knowledge as he could," Thompson said.
"There's been a lot written about his game last week for West Adelaide. He's in good form. He's a natural footballer so he knows where to run, his running patterns are good, defensively he can still get better.
"The teams he's played in growing up, he's been the dominant player through all those teams so he's probably been able to play the game one way, whereas now at this level you can't afford to be just an offensive player.
"I know definitely after last week's performance he's put his hand up for selection…I'm hoping we'll see him in the team real soon."
Thompson admitted several players were now skating on thin ice after a disappointing season-opener against the Bombers.
Although Crouch would have to out-muscle one of the side's guns to start as a midfielder, Thompson said there were enough sides to his game for him to play in several positions.
"He's capable of playing a number of roles, inside midfield, wing, forward and [maybe] the sub," he said.
"Luckily for me I'm not a coach, I don't have to pick the team, but it will be tough for selection with a number of blokes fit and guys performing in the SANFL after a disappointing result round one."
Thompson said his side had moved on from its 35-point loss to the Bombers and would try to replicate the Western Bulldogs' dominance over the Lions last weekend.
The 30-year-old predicted the Lions' defenders would be in for a tough encounter.
"We've looked at how Brisbane like to play … I know Western Bulldogs last week were able to take a lot of marks inside forward 50 and exploit their defenders in a number of ways," he said.
"We'll look to do things similar and come away with the four points."
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