Two Crows have forced their way into the AFL’s Team of the Week for Round 22, including a youngster’s first appearance of the season.
Showdown Medallist Matt Crouch makes his Team of the Week debut after a best-on-ground display in Saturday night’s physical clash with Port Adelaide.
Crouch, 21, amassed a match-high 33 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency along with six marks, six tackles and five clearances to earn a spot on the interchange in this week’s team.
The young onballer has been one of Adelaide’s most improved players this season. He’s missed just two games and is averaging an impressive 27 disposals per match, ranked second at the Crows behind only rebounding defender Rory Laird.
Another five-goal haul for Eddie Betts has earned him his second Team of the Week start in a row.
Betts starred in his 250th AFL game, collecting 18 possessions and claiming three marks alongside his five majors to be the most damaging forward on the ground. Only Greater Western Sydney forward Jonathon Patton kicked more goals (six) in Round 22.
Betts now sits equal-third in the Coleman Medal race with 65 goals for the season, surpassing his own personal best of 63 majors from last year’s All Australian season.
Incredibly, the in-form 29-year-old has kicked 20 goals through his last four games.
Betts claimed a forward pocket in his sixth Team of the Week appearance of the season, alongside Patton and fellow veteran Brent Harvey of North Melbourne.
Crouch and Betts were the only Crows to be included in this week’s side. Carlton, West Coast, Collingwood and GWS all had three representatives named, while the Western Bulldogs was the only other club with multiple players featured.
Rory Laird remains Adelaide’s most capped Team of the Week player (10 times). Rory Sloane, Josh Jenkins, (four times), Daniel Talia (three), Tom Lynch, Rory Atkins (twice), Scott Thompson, Brodie Smith, Jake Lever, Brad Crouch and Taylor Walker are the other Crows who have featured in the side throughout the course of the season.
Visit AFL.com.au to see the full Team of the Week for Round 22
