Even after 83 disposals in two weeks in the SANFL, there is no guarantee that Matt Crouch will return to Adelaide’s senior side this coming weekend.
The experienced midfielder spent a second successive week in the SANFL after he was dropped by Matthew Nicks prior to the Round 15 win over North Melbourne.
Crouch racked them up for the Crows’ reserves with 41 disposals, two goals and 11 clearance in a big win over Glenelg which came off the back of his 42-touch effort the weekend prior.
He has responded well to his axing, but is there even a spot for him in the Adelaide midfield?
Kane Cornes wonders what the future holds for the 27-year-old who is a previous best and fairest winner at the club as well as a past All-Australian.
He sees his situation as similar to Will Brodie, who has flourished at Fremantle after leaving Gold Coast, and Jarryd Lyons, who left the Crows in 2016 to seek greener pastures, first with the Suns and then at Brisbane.
Cornes pondered on SEN SA Breakfast: “I don’t know whether he comes in this week. Whose spot would he take?
“Probably that Schoenberg position, isn’t he? Harry’s not setting the world on fire, just three kicks on the weekend.
“I’m just not sure how much love there would be for Matt Crouch.
“Albeit, and we’ve seen what Will Brodie has done at Fremantle with a new opportunity, and another go at it. Jarryd Lyons perhaps to a similar extent seven or eight years ago when he moved away from Adelaide and has had more opportunities in a team that plays to his strengths.
“Maybe there’s an opportunity for Matt Crouch there.”
Crows assistant Scott Burns praised Crouch, as well as veteran defender Luke Brown, for the way they have gone about their recent demotions to the state league.
He insists that both players will be considered for senior selection provided it is the right fit given there are plenty of Crows youngsters knocking on the door.
“‘Crouchy’ was fantastic, so that’s two weeks in a row now,” Burns said.
“What I love about this club is we’ve had boys who have gone back to the SANFL and they’ve performed week in, week out. There’s a real selflessness at this football club at the moment.
“We know Crouchy’s record, he’s a best and fairest winner and an All-Australian.
“Luke Brown seems to be forgotten about in some of these conversations as well. He hadn’t played SANFL football since 2012, but he’s gone back and really supported those boys alongside him in that backline.
“When we believe they are in our best 22, they’re in, there’s no doubt about that.
“We just don’t want to gift games to players because I think you can create all sorts of problems when you start doing that.
“Consistently this year we’ve easily been the youngest and least experienced team, but there is absolutely a balance.
“What we do have is young players playing some really good football at the SANFL level as well so there is some competition for spots at the moment.”
Crouch, who is contracted until the end of 2023, was recently urged to “get out” of the club by former Crow Bryce Gibbs.
He has played 10 AFL matches this year averaging 27.3 disposals (third best at the club) and 4.2 clearances (fourth best at the club).
The 5-10 Crows, who sit 14th on the ladder, next meet 15th-placed Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium this Sunday.
The SANFL side that sits second takes on Sturt on the same day.