After initially expecting to be unavailable to play any form of AFL in 2012, promising midfielder Brad Crouch says it was a ‘big bonus’ to make his debut in Adelaide’s 51-point NAB Cup win over the Brisbane Lions in Alice Springs on Saturday night. 

Too young to nominate for the 2011 AFL Draft, Crouch was selected by the Crows in Greater Western Sydney’s ‘mini-draft’ of eligible 17-year-olds last October.

Despite turning 18 in January, the North Ballarat teenager can’t be considered for selection in the AFL premiership season until 2013, but received special permission from the League to line-up in this year’s pre-season competition.

The Club took advantage of the AFL’s ruling, which also made Gold Coast Suns onballer Jaeger O’Meara eligible for NAB Cup selection, naming Crouch to play his one and only game for the Crows this season on Saturday night.

“When I first heard I was eligible to play in the NAB Cup I thought it was just a big bonus because I’d expected not to play at all this year,” Crouch told afc.com.au after the game.

“It gave me something to aim for rather than knowing you can’t play AFL at all.

“It was a good opportunity to play even just one game … I was pretty lucky.”

Crouch made an encouraging start to his AFL career against the Lions, collecting 13 possessions and laying two tackles in less than three quarters of football.

Crouch, who won’t feature again in the 2012 NAB Cup as coach Brenton Sanderson tries to settle on a side for round one of the season proper, said he’d been determined to make the most of only opportunity at the highest level this year.

“Before the game, ‘Sando’ said to me, ‘you can only play one game this year, so give it your all’,” Crouch said.

“Paddy Dangerfield said the same sort of thing, to go out there and really enjoy it.

“The intensity probably stepped up from the intra-club game a few weeks ago, but I think I get caught up in the game and don’t notice it too much sometimes.

“I was a little bit nervous, but not too bad.

“I get more nervous when I have to do running or fitness tests - footy doesn’t really faze me.

“I played okay and came off about midway through the third quarter, which was fine because I was pretty knackered by then anyway … I felt like I’d played a whole game.”

An unashamed fan of Crouch’s ability, Sanderson said he’d been pleased with prolific onballer’s performance on debut.

“Crouchy was like a typical 18-year-old kid in his first game,” Sanderson said.

“He chased the ball wherever it went.

“He probably a few times ran himself into bad positions … but at the same time he was everywhere the ball was.

“Whenever there was a contest, Crouchy would be at the bottom of the pack and that’s what we love about him.

“His head was spinning in the rooms before, but it was a fantastic opportunity for him.

“We won’t see him again at AFL level for another 12 months, so he’ll go away and learn his craft and be an important player for us next year.”

Crouch will continue his development this season at SANFL club West Adelaide, starting with a trial match next weekend.

“I’ve been out to Westies six or seven times, most weeks lately and I’m starting to form a pretty good relationship with them,” Crouch said.

“There’s a long way to go until next year, but the game against the Lions gave me a sense of just how excited I’d be to play in a real game.

“I probably will get a bit frustrated at times, not being able to play AFL this year but I had a good experience tonight, playing against good players and I’ll be hoping to play as many games as I can with Westies.”