Brad and Matt Crouch say their sibling rivalry will be shelved now they are Crows teammates.
The brothers, who were born only 15 months apart, grew up playing together in the backyard of their Ballarat family home. Whether it was footy in the winter, cricket in the summer, or anything in between, the pair was fiercely competitive.
Their dogged determination to win at all costs occasionally resulted in parents, Phil and Debbie, having to step in to break up the ensuing scuffle.
Only six weeks ago, Matt turned up to the Draft Combine sporting a black eye after receiving a (kind of) accidental blow from Brad during one of their “dust-ups”. Neither can remember what started it.
That’s not to say the brothers aren’t the best of friends – Both wanted nothing more than for Matt to be drafted to Adelaide. They are just two, knockabout lads from the country, who don’t like to lose (at anything). But, who away from the sports arena are as laidback and likeable as they come.
“We got into a bit of a dust-up when I was back home in Ballarat over the break and it ended in tears. I can’t even remember what it was over, but it wasn’t much … it just escalated quickly!” Brad said with a laugh.
“We’re just really competitive. We always have been, like most brothers I guess. Hopefully, we can stop that now that we’re in the same team. It’s usually just a bit of fun and we have a laugh about it afterwards, but that one wasn’t as much.”
This competitive streak is one of the reasons both Brad and Matt have made it into the AFL system.
“I think my competitiveness is one of my strengths and I think you need that going into the AFL,” Matt said.
“Brad’s the same. We just always want to win.”
While the rest of the Crouch family tuned into the draft on television at home in Ballarat, Brad watched it unfold with new housemate, Taylor Walker. The eldest Crouch brother said he could hardly watch as the second round of the draft began.
“I knew Matt would be around the mark at No.23. We thought he might be a chance at Brisbane at No.22, so I was a bit worried about that and also about Port at No.21,” he said.
“I was holding my breath for about two minutes there and then his name was called out.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’m stoked. I spoke to Matt quickly after his name was read out because he called me straight away. He was pretty emotional – he couldn’t talk too much.
“There must’ve been people everywhere because I couldn’t hear too much. He’s very happy.”
The pair will now aim to become the first set of brothers to play in the same Crows team since the Jarman brothers in the mid-1990s.
“We’re very lucky to be in the same side. It doesn’t happen very often in the draft system,” Brad said.
“I’m really happy to have him over here and he’s really happy to be coming over. It’ll make it easier on our parents too, only having to visit one city. I’m rapt.”
Matt and Brad are both midfielders, but with slightly different skill sets. Matt is exclusively an inside midfielder – an accumulator, who is adept at winning the contested ball.
Brad said he expected Matt to adapt to the physical demands of AFL football.
“I haven’t seen him play as much as I would’ve liked over the last couple of years, but I’ve seen a lot of his tapes,” Brad said.
“He’s a really good inside player. He’s still got a fair bit of work to do on his endurance, speed and strength but like a lot of 18-year-olds, he’s never done a full pre-season – he’s been a cricketer as well.
“I think as soon as he spends a bit of time at an AFL club, he’ll go very well.”
Matt will join his brother at training for the first time on Monday.
The pair could be spending almost all their time together if Matt moves in with Brad and Walker for a few weeks leading into the break.
“We’ve got a spare room here, so Matt might have to move in with us before Christmas. I think Tex is pretty happy for him to move in,” Brad said.
“Hopefully, without mum and dad there Matt and I will behave a bit better … Tex might have to take the fatherly role at home.”
Matt was also open to the move.
“I’m not sure where I’ll be living … I guess it would be entertaining moving in with Brad and Tex,” he said with a laugh.
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