A few words of advice from older brother Brad helped Matt Crouch keep cool on debut in Adelaide’s 60-point NAB Challenge win over Port Adelaide on Sunday.
Brad, who is building up to full fitness after an Achilles complaint, watched from the stands at Richmond Oval as Matt ran out for the Crows for the first time. The quietly-spoken siblings chatted briefly before the hit-out.
“Brad didn’t say too much to me before the game. He just said, ‘go out there, enjoy it and play the way you normally play’. He kept it pretty simple,” Matt told Channel Crow.
“It does help having him as someone I can talk to about that sort of stuff.”
Matt racked up 23 possessions, won five clearances and laid a game-high six tackles in an impressive display against the Power.
Crows wingman David Mackay said Crouch, who was selected with pick No.23 in last year’s AFL National Draft, had looked at ease since his first day of pre-season training.
“Matt stepped in one day one and just looked like he belonged at AFL level. He’s got time and just manages to find the ball. To have Matt and Brad in our squad is really exciting for everyone,” Mackay said.
“We’re hoping Matt can play senior footy this year because he certainly looks capable. He’s had a great pre-season where he’s got a lot of training under his belt. He’s fit and healthy, so there’s no reason why he can’t play a lot of senior footy this year, but he’s a first-year player and still only 18-years-old, so there are going to be times where he might find it difficult and get tired.
“He’s got the right constitution to be able to play a lot of AFL footy.”
Despite appearing comfortable at AFL level on Sunday, Crouch said it took him time to adapt to the speed of the game.
“Coming from junior footy and a little bit of senior footy back home in Ballarat, nothing compares to AFL. The speed of the game was very quick. I had to adapt early in the quarters,” Crouch said.
“I was cramping a bit in the last quarter, but apart from that I felt pretty good. Nick Poulos and the physical performance guys have done really well getting all the boys up and ready for this year.
“The pre-season has been pretty tough. I’ve done a lot of sleeping at home after training! It’s been good for me. I need to work on my fitness a bit, but it’s coming along.”
Adelaide’s next NAB Challenge game is against Carlton on Monday night, February 24.
The Club is expected to recall a number of experienced players including Scott Thompson, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten, Jared Petrenko and Rory Laird. Crouch was hopeful of getting another opportunity against the Blues.
“If I get another game in the NAB Challenge, that’ll be a good thing and, hopefully, I can go out and play well,” he said.
“I’ll get feedback from the coaches and see what I need to work on to get games this season. I just want to keep learning from the guys at the Club. I watch a lot of Scotty Thompson; he’s a good one for me to look at.
“Also, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Richard Douglas … they’re all very good players for me to learn from.”
The Crouch brothers are on board. Are you? You can join the Club as a member from just $25 for a junior and $50 for an adult. Find out more about 2014 membership.
