Young gun Matt Crouch says he’s relishing extra responsibility and opportunity in the midfield this season.
After finishing off the season strongly last year, the 21-year-old has carried his form into 2016 and established himself as one of Adelaide’s most consistent contributors.
Crouch’s played every game so far this season, averaging 25 possessions, six clearances and four tackles per game. He’s also strung together a career-best 13 games in succession since Round 18 last year, and has missed just one match of Adelaide’s last 23.
Crouch, who also featured in all three of Adelaide’s NAB Challenge games, says a big summer helped set up his solid start to the season.
“For me, it was just my fitness base and getting that up to the level,” Crouch said on radio station FIVEaa.
“My defensive transition as well - I think that’s a big part of footy these days. Getting that right and focusing on that throughout the pre-season was my aim.”
Crouch has become an important cog in Adelaide’s midfield, which has also started the year well as a unit.
The Crows lead the AFL in clearances, rank second in contested possessions and fourth in hard-ball gets. Crouch ranks top-two at the Club in all three statistics.
The left-footer said he was starting to feel more at home competing against bigger bodies inside the centre square.
“I feel like I’ve played a few more (minutes) through there this year and I’m really enjoying the freedom of going through there,” Crouch said.
“I’m 100 per cent at the moment, and feeling really good. But it’s only early in the season.”
Crouch lined up against Hawthorn veteran Sam Mitchell at different stages during Adelaide’s disappointing three-point loss to the Hawks at the MCG. Mitchell has earned a reputation as a ball magnet midfielder who is almost peerless inside the contest.
Crouch said he took a lot out of his time minding the four-time premiership player last Friday night.
“He’s a good player to learn off,” he said.
“He’s very good on both feet and in traffic. He’s a player I would love to play like one day, and he does a very good job for Hawthorn.”
The Crows welcome a winless Fremantle to Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon. Coach Don Pyke said Adelaide wouldn’t underestimate the Dockers despite their poor record so far this season.
Crouch agreed, and said the burn from last Friday’s loss would spur the Crows on this weekend.
“The boys were pretty gutted at the end of the game,” he said.
“We felt like, with probably five or six minutes to go, that the game was in our control. That’s what good sides like Hawthorn do - they never give up.
“It was obviously disappointing to lose that game and we should’ve probably won.”
Saturday’s clash with Fremantle kicks off at 1.40pm at Adelaide Oval.
