Matt Crouch (footballer)

Australian rules footballer

Australian rules footballer

Matt Crouch

Crouch playing for Adelaide in April 2017

Personal information
Full name|  Matthew Crouch
Date of birth|  (1995-04-21) 21 April 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth|  Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Original team(s)|  Ballarat Football Club (Junior Football)
Beaufort (CHFL)
North Ballarat Rebels (TAC Cup)
Draft|  No. 23, 2013 national draft
Debut|  Round 3, 2014, Adelaide vs. Sydney, at Adelaide Oval
Height|  181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight|  80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s)|  Midfielder
Club information
Current club|  Adelaide
Number|  5
Playing career1
Years|  Club|  Games (Goals)
2014-|  Adelaide|  158 (30)

1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.

Career highlights

* All-Australian team: 2017
* Malcolm Blight Medal: 2017
* Showdown Medal: Round 22, 2016
* 22under22 team: 2017
* 2014 AFL Rising Star nominee

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Matt Crouch (born 21 April 1995) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Adelaide Football Club with pick 23 in the 2013 national draft. Crouch won the Malcolm Blight Medal in 2017, a year where Adelaide finished first on the ladder.[1] He is the younger brother of former teammate Brad Crouch.[2]

## AFL career

[edit]

Crouch made his AFL debut for the Crows in round 3 of the 2014 season, collecting 18 disposals in a heavy loss to Sydney.[3] Crouch earned a nomination for the AFL Rising Star after having 28 disposals to three quarter time against Greater Western Sydney, at which point he was substituted out of the game.[4] In total Crouch played eight matches in his first year in the AFL, and averaged 33 possessions and 8 clearances in ten matches for Adelaide's reserves side, polling 12 votes in the Magarey Medal.[5]

Crouch had an interrupted 2015 pre-season due to an ankle injury suffered just prior to Christmas.[6] He recovered to have a breakout year, playing 17 games including Adelaide's two finals and averaging 21 possessions. At the end of the season he was rewarded with the club's Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award.[7] He also signed a three-year contract with Adelaide after the 2015 season, keeping him at the club until 2018.[8]

In 2017, Crouch lifted his game to a new level, averaging 33 disposals per game and finishing second in the AFL for disposals after the regular season, and during the finals broke Dane Swan's AFL record for most disposals in a complete season with 825. He was selected in the 2017 All-Australian team and nominated by his club for the AFL Players Association MVP Award.[9] In late August, Crouch was named The Age's Player of the Year and won the Malcolm Blight Medal as Adelaide Football Club's best and fairest winner for 2017.[10][1] In January 2018 Crouch re-signed with the Crows until the end of 2021.[11]

Crouch sat out the 2021 AFL season due to a groin injury. After speculation that Matt Crouch would depart the Crows with his free agency rights, Crouch re-signed at Adelaide for two years, keeping him at the club until the end of 2023. Crouch returned to the AFL in round one of the 2022 AFL season against the Fremantle Dockers and did so with great success, collecting a cool 30 disposals.[12]

In 2024, Crouch was back to his best form, averaging 30 disposals for the year. His season looked to be cut short after requiring shoulder surgery from an injury sustained in the round 12 loss to Hawthorn.[13] However, Crouch made a miraculous recovery and returned to the side in round 21 against Geelong.[14] Following the Crows' loss to Port Adelaide in the round 23 Showdown, Crouch was seen on video knocking off the hat of a supporter. A police investigation was conducted regarding allegations that the interaction could be classed as assault, but all charges were dropped.[15][16]

## Statistics

[edit]

Statistics are correct to end of 2024.[17]
Legend

| Goals |

| Kicks |

| Disposals |

| Tackles

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Behinds |

| Handballs |

| Marks

| Led the league for
the season |
Season  | Team  | No. | Games  | Totals  | Averages (per game)  | Votes

|
|
|
|
|
|

G  | B  | K  | H  | D  | M  | T  | G  | B  | K  | H  | D  | M  | T
2014 | Adelaide | 44 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 63 | 69 | 132 | 26 | 26 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 16.5 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 0
2015 | Adelaide | 44 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 145 | 212 | 357 | 45 | 57 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 8.5 | 12.5 | 21.0 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 0
2016 | Adelaide | 44 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 250 | 359 | 609 | 75 | 100 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 11.3 | 16.3 | 27.6 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 7
2017 | Adelaide | 44 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 345 | 480 | 825† | 76 | 119 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 13.8 | 19.2 | 33.0 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 11
2018 | Adelaide | 5 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 249 | 331 | 580 | 69 | 70 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 13.8 | 18.4 | 32.2 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 8
2019 | Adelaide | 5 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 270 | 350 | 620 | 77 | 65 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 14.2 | 18.4 | 32.6 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 8
2020 | Adelaide | 5 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 162 | 256 | 418 | 44 | 74 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 10.1 | 16.0 | 26.1 | 2.8 | 4.6 | 3
2021 | Adelaide | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | –
2022 | Adelaide | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 186 | 301 | 39 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 10.5 | 16.9 | 27.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 0
2023 | Adelaide | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 132 | 187 | 18 | 35 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 7.9 | 18.9 | 26.7 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 0
2024 | Adelaide | 5  | 15 | 0 | 2 | 155 | 294 | 449 | 62 | 79 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 10.3 | 19.6† | 29.9 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 4
Career  | 158  | 30  | 30  | 1810  | 2669  | 4479  | 531  | 669  | 0.2  | 0.2  | 11.5  | 16.9  | 28.4  | 3.4  | 4.2  | 41

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Crouch crowned Club Champion". afc.com.au. 6 October 2017.
2. ^ Capel, Andrew (22 November 2013). "Brothers Matt and Brad Crouch join forces for the Adelaide Crows". The Advertiser.
3. ^ Capel, Andrew (7 April 2014). "Winless Adelaide vows to make statement for Patrick Dangerfield against St Kilda". AdelaideNow.
4. ^ "Matt Crouch earns NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for performance against GWS". The Advertiser. 22 April 2014.
5. ^ "Matt Crouch - AFC.com.au". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015.
6. ^ "Matt Crouch suffers pre-season setback as Adelaide midfielder undergoes ankle surgery". The Advertiser. 6 January 2015.
7. ^ "Matt Crouch wins Mark Bickley Award". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
8. ^ "Junior Crouch commits to Crows". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
9. ^ McNicholas, Aiden (8 September 2017). "AFLPA MVP nominees announced". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
10. ^ "Brownlow Tracker: Round 23 — Dustin Martin odds shorten to season-low, boosts chances again". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
11. ^ "Crouch signs - AFC.com.au". AFC.com.au. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
12. ^ "Player Stats". afl.com.au. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
13. ^ "Crows mid out for season, uncertainty over key duo". afl.com.au. 3 June 2024.
14. ^ "Season over? Star Crow in mix for stunning return". adelaidenows.com.au. The Advertiser. 23 July 2024.
15. ^ Reid, Harrison (21 August 2024). "Adelaide player Matt Crouch at centre of police investigation into alleged fan altercation as new vision emerges". Seven Network.
16. ^ "'Hatgate' investigation against Crows star dropped". adelaidenow.com.au. The Advertiser. 17 September 2024.
17. ^ "AFL Tables - Matt Crouch statistics". AFL Tables.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matt Crouch (footballer).

* Matt Crouch's profile on the official website of the Adelaide Football Club
* Matt Crouch's playing statistics from AFL Tables

* v
* t
* e

Adelaide Football Club - current squad

* 1 Jones
* 2 Keays
* 3 Berry
* 4 Murphy
* 5 Crouch
* 6 Curtin
* 7 Thilthorpe
* 8 Rachele
* 10 Pedlar
* 11 Edwards
* 12 Dawson (c)
* 13 Walker
* 14 Soligo
* 15 Cook
* 16 Michalanney
* 19 Taylor
* 20 Hinge
* 22 Ryan
* 23 Rankine
* 24 Worrell
* 27 Nankervis
* 28 N. Murray
* 29 Laird
* 30 Milera
* 31 Dowling
* 32 Fogarty
* 33 Smith
* 35 Borlase*
* 36 Gallagher*
* 38 Sholl
* 39 T. Murray*
* 40 Bond
* 41 Butts
* 43 O'Brien
* 45 Strachan
* 48 Keane*
* Cumming
* Neal-Bullen
* Peatling

* Coach: Nicks

* denotes rookie listed players

* v
* t
* e

Malcolm Blight Medal * Adelaide Football Club best and fairest winners

* 1991: Mickan
* 1992: McDermott
* 1993: McGuinness
* 1994: Rehn
* 1995: Connell
* 1996: Liptak
* 1997: McLeod
* 1998: Ricciuto
* 1999: Hart
* 2000: Goodwin
* 2001: McLeod
* 2002: Hart
* 2003: Ricciuto
* 2004: Ricciuto
* 2005: Goodwin
* 2006: Goodwin
* 2007: McLeod
* 2008: Bock
* 2009: Vince
* 2010: Douglas
* 2011: Thompson
* 2012: Thompson
* 2013: Sloane
* 2014: Talia
* 2015: Dangerfield
* 2016: Sloane
* 2017: M. Crouch
* 2018: Laird
* 2019: B. Crouch
* 2020: O'Brien
* 2021: Laird
* 2022: Laird
* 2023: Dawson
* 2024: Dawson/Keays

* v
* t
* e

2017 All-Australian team

Full-back|

* Michael Hibberd (Melbourne)
* Alex Rance (Richmond) (c)
* Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)

Half-back|

* Rory Laird (Adelaide)
* Michael Hurley (Essendon)
* Sam Docherty (Carlton)

Centre|

* Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)
* Dustin Martin (Richmond)
* Zach Merrett (Essendon)

Half-forward|

* Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
* Lance Franklin (Sydney)
* Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions)

Full-forward|

* Joe Daniher (Essendon)
* Josh Kennedy (West Coast) (vc)
* Eddie Betts (Adelaide)

Ruck|

* Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide)
* Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
* Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Interchange|

* Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
* Elliot Yeo (West Coast)
* Joel Selwood (Geelong)
* Dylan Shiel (Greater Western Sydney)

Coach|

* Damien Hardwick (Richmond)

← 2016

The position of coach in the All-Australian team has been awarded to the coach of the premiership-winning team since 1999.

2018 →

* v
* t
* e

Showdown Medal

AFL|

* Rd 7, 2000: Ricciuto
* Rd 22, 2000: Stevens
* Rd 3, 2001: Francou
* Rd 18, 2001: Francou
* Rd 5, 2002: Schofield
* Rd 20, 2002: Francou
* Rd 5, 2003: Johncock
* Rd 22, 2003: P. Burgoyne
* Rd 7, 2004: Ricciuto
* Rd 22, 2004: Tredrea
* Rd 3, 2005: Ricciuto
* Rd 20, 2005: Goodwin/S. Burgoyne
* Rd 6, 2006: Edwards
* Rd 21, 2006: Cornes
* Rd 3, 2007: McLeod
* Rd 18, 2007: Goodwin
* Rd 3, 2008: Vince
* Rd 16, 2008: Pearce
* Rd 6, 2009: Brogan
* Rd 17, 2009: Bock
* Rd 6, 2010: Gray
* Rd 17, 2010: Cassisi
* Rd 4, 2011: Westhoff
* Rd 19, 2011: van Berlo
* Rd 5, 2012: Dangerfield
* Rd 15, 2012: Jacobs
* Rd 3, 2013: Boak
* Rd 19, 2013: Wingard
* Rd 2, 2014: Hartlett
* Rd 15, 2014: Jacobs
* Rd 5, 2015: Gray
* Rd 16, 2015: Thompson
* Rd 2, 2016: Lynch
* Rd 22, 2016: Crouch
* Rd 3, 2017: Sloane
* Rd 20, 2017: Jacobs
* Rd 8, 2018: Gray
* Rd 20, 2018: Gray
* Rd 8, 2019: Keath
* Rd 16, 2019: Gray
* 2020: Boak
* Rd 8, 2021: Boak
* Rd 21, 2021: Aliir
* Rd 3, 2022: Dawson
* Rd 23, 2022: Rozee
* Rd 3, 2023: Dawson
* Rd 20, 2023: Walker
* Rd 8, 2024: Soligo
* Rd 23, 2024: Butters

AFL Women's|

* 2022 (S7): Randall
* 2023: Kelly
* 2024: Marinoff

* v
* t
* e

2014 AFL Rising Star nominees

* Rd 1: Dunstan
* Rd 2: Buckley
* Rd 3: Kelly
* Rd 4: McDonald
* Rd 5: Crouch
* Rd 6: Aish
* Rd 7: Langdon
* Rd 8: Impey
* Rd 9: Taylor
* Rd 10: Kolodjashnij
* Rd 11: Merrett
* Rd 12: Daniher
* Rd 13: Bontempelli
* Rd 14: Billings
* Rd 15: Cunningham
* Rd 16: Menzel
* Rd 17: Hrovat
* Rd 18: Patton
* Rd 19: Gardiner
* Rd 20: Stringer
* Rd 21: Lloyd
* Rd 22: Taberner
* Rd 23: Martin

Italics denote winner

* v
* t
* e

2013 AFL national draft

First round|

* 1\. Tom Boyd
* 2\. Josh Kelly
* 3\. Jack Billings
* 4\. Marcus Bontempelli
* 5\. Kade Kolodjashnij
* 6\. Matthew Scharenberg
* 7\. James Aish
* 8\. Luke McDonald (F/S)
* 9\. Christian Salem
* 10\. Nathan Freeman
* 11\. Dom Sheed
* 12\. Ben Lennon
* 13\. Patrick Cripps
* 14\. Cam McCarthy
* 15\. Zak Jones
* 16\. Darcy Lang
* 17\. Michael Apeness
* 18\. Luke Dunstan
* 19\. Blake Acres
* 20\. Jack Leslie

Second round|

* 21\. Jarman Impey
* 22\. Darcy Gardiner
* 23\. Matt Crouch
* 24\. Billy Hartung
* 25\. Daniel McStay
* 26\. Zach Merrett
* 27\. Sean Lemmens
* 28\. Lewis Taylor
* 29\. Rory Lobb
* 30\. Trent Dumont
* 31\. Malcolm Karpany
* 32\. George Hewett
* 33\. Tom Cutler
* 34\. Nick Robertson
* 35\. Toby Nankervis
* 36\. Jarrad Jansen
* 37\. Alex Pearce
* 38\. Dayle Garlett

Third round|

* 39\. Cameron Giles
* 40\. Jay Kennedy Harris
* 41\. Jake Kolodjashnij
* 42\. Matt Fuller
* 43\. Tom Barrass
* 44\. Aliir Aliir
* 45\. Mitchell Harvey
* 46\. Riley Knight
* 47\. Ben Brown
* 49\. Dylan Main
* 50\. Nathan Gordon
* 51\. Nick Holman
* 52\. Darcy Byrne-Jones
* 54\. Josh Walker (RP)
* 55\. Orazio Fantasia
* 56\. James Sicily

Fourth round|

* 57\. Jayden Hunt
* 58\. Brady Grey
* 59\. Jonathon Ceglar (RP)
* 60\. Mitch Honeychurch
* 61\. Jamie Bennell (RP)
* 62\. Jonathan Freeman (Academy selection)
* 63\. George Burbury (RP)
* 64\. Lauchlan Dalgleish (RP)
* 65\. Tom Langdon
* 66\. Sam Lloyd
* 68\. Karl Amon
* 70\. Matt Taberner (RP)
* 71\. Will Langford (RP)

Fifth round|

* 74\. Jeremy McGovern (RP)
* 75\. Justin Clarke (RP)
* 76\. Kyle Hartigan (RP)
* 77\. Jonathon Marsh
* 80\. Brandon Jack (RP)

Sixth round|

* 82\. Mitch Clisby (RP)
* 83\. Tom Curren (RP)
* 84\. Brett Goodes (RP)
* 85\. Simon Tunbridge (RP)
* 86\. Rory Laird (RP)
* 87\. Sam Dwyer (RP)
* 89\. Ed Curnow (RP)
* 90\. Dane Rampe (RP)

Seventh round|

* 92\. Adam Oxley (RP)
* 93\. Ricky Petterd (RP)
* 94\. Tom Bell (RP)

Eighth round|

* 95\. Zac Williams (RP)

Ninth round|

* 97\. Jake Barrett (NSW Zone)

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