Growing up in Ballarat, Matt and Brad Crouch were always locked in “backyard battles”.

The star midfielders, who will this weekend play an AFL match in their hometown for the first time, are relishing a return to where it all began.

“I loved my time back there,” Matt told The Crows Show, brought to you by Optus.

“It’s a good place to grow up and play footy… I can’t wait to get back there.

“There was a lot of backyard battles and he (Brad) was only 15 months older.

“I was always a bit smaller than him, but I always had a crack.”

Playing for the same club has also made it a lot easier on their parents, Brad told The Crows Show.

“It would be a lot different if we were in different states… Mum and Dad really appreciate it,” the older of the brothers said.

“The best thing is being able to play footy with your brother.”

Before joining the Adelaide Crows, the Crouch brothers lined up for the Beaufort Crows in the Central Highlands Football League.

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Had a feeling this might happen one day! Well done @mattcrouch2.. Very lucky

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“Dad taught at the school (in Beaufort) and has been for 25 years or so,” Brad said.

“He coached the local footy team so that’s why we played footy for Beaufort.”

But the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup were the penultimate club for both brothers before moving to Adelaide.

Brad joined the Crows through the mini-draft in 2011 (pick two, while Matt joined the Crows via pick 23 in the 2013 national draft.

Also on The Crows Show this week, a look back at the best moments from Know Your Bro(die), the hot topic of farewell games and former Crow turned club physiotherapist Tim Cook talks about his time at West Lakes.

The Crows Show will air at the special time of 3.30pm ACST in Adelaide on Sunday, straight after the Crows and Bulldogs game.