Forced to wait six weeks to join his new teammates at Adelaide after being recruited by the Club in trade week, North Ballarat teenager Brad Crouch was a reluctant spectator on his first day of pre-season training following surgery to remove his wisdom teeth.
Crouch remained in Victoria to complete his schooling after being picked up by the Crows in the 17-year-old mini-draft in October.
The highly-rated midfielder arrived in Adelaide alongside Victorian draftee Sam Kerridge last weekend, but had to watch from the sidelines at training on Monday.
“I had my wisdom teeth out on Wednesday, so I can’t do anything that's going to do them harm,” Crouch said.
“I can’t do any of the hard stuff … stuff that’s going to make me puff at all.
“I couldn’t even kick the footy today, so I’ll be wrapped up in cotton wool for the next few days.
“They’re only wisdom teeth, so hopefully in a week or two I’ll be able to get started flat out.
“I can’t wait to get into it.”
The delayed start to training isn’t an issue for Crouch, who can't play AFL until 2013.
Instead, the hard-bodied onballer will spend his first season at West Lakes playing for an SANFL club, which will be determined in next month’s ‘mini-draft’ of AFL-listed interstate recruits.
Gold Coast, which secured West Australian Jaeger O’Meara with pick No.1 in the 17-year-old mini-draft (Crouch was pick No.2), has indicated the skilful midfielder will play limited time in the QAFL next year with the emphasis on building up his strength, but Crouch said he hoped to play “every game” in the SANFL in 2012.
“I’ll do a lot of weights training as well, but Adelaide is keen for me to play footy [next year],” Crouch said.
“I’m hoping that, physically, I’ll be up to playing [league] SANFL in round one.
“The SANFL is known for a pretty contested style of footy, so to be exposed to that a year earlier instead of playing against kids [in the TAC Cup], who I’m a similar size to, is a big advantage.
“I’ll get a lot out of it, so why not play?”
Kerridge joined in parts of training on Monday, while fellow draftees Crouch, Mitch Grigg, Nick Joyce and Cam Ellis-Yolmen watched on or trained indoors.
A strongly-built midfielder, Kerridge showcased his endurance in a five-minute run.
“It was a tough first day for me,” Kerridge said.
“You have to do the five-minute run twice and there’s a certain time-gap that you’ve got to be within the second time around.
“The players are just professional with everything they do and it’s a reality check for anyone who comes into the system … but it was great to be out there and to start pre-season on day one.”
Kerridge, who played a handful of VFL games with Bendigo last year, said he was hopeful his 188cm, 86kg frame would enable him to push for AFL selection in his first season.
“I want to set the benchmark for myself and that’s to play in round one,” he said.
“Whatever the coaches want me to do, or whatever I have to do extra to help me play I’ll be doing.”
Crouch and Kerridge will join host families in the New Year, but have moved in with players and staff members in the lead up to Christmas.
Crouch is living with former best and fairest winner Richard Douglas, while Kerridge will be on his best behaviour under the watchful eye of general manager football operations Phil Harper and his family.
Several senior players, including Scott Thompson, Ben Rutten and International Rules representatives Douglas and Bernie Vince, are on leave from the Club this week.
As the Crows prepare for season 2012 on the track, be sure to visit 19thman.com.au and renew or join the Club for 2012.
