AFL 2023: Tom Doedee speaks on his future at the Crows

Tom Doedee is realistic about what his knee reconstruction did to his chances of a long term deal at the Crows, while a decision by Matt Crouch is expected within weeks. Check out the latest.

Adelaide defender Tom Doedee says his knee injury has complicated his contract negotiations but he ideally wants to remain a Crow for life.

Doedee, who comes out of contract at season’s end, is still weighing up his playing future after receiving a modest revised offer from Adelaide on the back of his anterior cruciate ligament injury in June.

“The knee’s complicated matters but hasn’t changed the overarching feel for me, which is to be a Crow for life,” Doedee told FIVEaa.

Tom Doedee wants to be a Crow for life. Picture: Michael Klein

“But we’ve got to make that work for both parties.

“Ideal world I’m at Adelaide, but unfortunately with the way things have changed with the knee, certain stuff is still working itself out.”

Doedee told Channel 9 he hoped for a long-term deal around the five-year mark, but was not opposed to a two-season extension.

“If it’s a short-term deal then leads to benefits maybe later on, maybe that’s something that we look at,” he said.

Doedee intended to begin talks with Adelaide around the club’s bye, only to suffer his injury against Gold Coast in Darwin the week before.

It was the Victorian’s second reconstruction in four years.

Taken at pick 17 in the 2015 national draft, Doedee has played 82 games since debuting in round 1, 2018.

Brisbane has also been linked to Doedee.

Matt Crouch is happy in Adelaide with his family but would consider moving interstate if a multi-year deal was tabled. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Adelaide midfielder Matt Crouch is expected to make a decision on his future over the next fortnight, weighing up interest from the Crows, as well from several other clubs.

Crouch, 28, is well entrenched in Adelaide with his fiancee Ellie and their seven-month-old daughter, Ava, but is open to a fresh start interstate as long as it is a multi-year deal.

The Crows, who are tight for list spots, have had preliminary discussions about an extension, though there is no offer yet on the table for the 2017 All-Australian.

After being out of favour for most of the season playing SANFL, Crouch has spent the past five games in the AFL team and impressed.

An opportunity to feature regularly at the top level will have a big sway on his call.

“We will now sit down and that (contract negotiation) will be a real focus for us over the next couple of weeks,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said on Wednesday.

Nicks weighs in on futures of Doedee, Crouch

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks remains hopeful Tom Doedee will re-sign as the defender weighs up his future amid a revised offer from the club.

The Crows parked contract talks with Doedee after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in June and have since put forward a modest deal, well short of one before the injury – his second knee reconstruction in four years.

Doedee, 26, has played 82 games for the Crows since being drafted at pick 17 in 2017 and is part of the club’s leadership group.

Asked on Wednesday if he was confident Doedee would extend his deal, Nicks said: “I hope so”.

“I’ve been able to talk with Tom right throughout the last two or three months and that’s been very open and honest about where things are at, and asking how he’s going,” Nicks said.

“He’s a very important part of what we’ve done at this footy club and what we’d like to do.

“Tom and I, just because we’re great mates and close and have a huge amount of respect for each other, doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily keep players, there’s other reasons.

“There’s details we’ve got to get right in that space.”

Tom Doedee is yet to make a call on his future. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Nicks said he liked to think midfielder Matt Crouch also wanted to stay at the club.

Crouch, 28, is also coming out of contract at the end of the season and has shown his value during an impressive five-game return to the AFL side.

The Victorian has averaged 28.8 disposals, 6.4 tackles, four inside 50s, 7.6 clearances and kicked two goals during that span.

Crouch, an All-Australian and best-and-fairest winner in 2017, had played 11 SANFL matches this campaign before being recalled.

“It’s been tough for him this year … not getting an opportunity early in the season,” Nicks said.

“But since he has and the way he’s held himself, what he’s done with our young group and played at SANFL level … he’s then come in and performed in an outstanding month of footy.

“We will now sit down and that (contract negotiation) will be a real focus for us over the next couple of weeks.”

Matt Crouch has won plenty of the ball since winning his spot back in the Crows team. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Adelaide is poised to make at least two changes for its final game of the season against West Coast in Perth on Saturday night, losing forward Shane McAdam to a fractured cheekbone and managing Rory Sloane due to an eye issue.

Nicks would not weigh into the tribunal’s decision to clear Sydney defender Tom McCartin of rough conduct for his collision with McAdam.

Forward Lachlan Gollant is set to replace McAdam.

Nicks was wary of what second-bottom West Coast could produce coming off a stunning upset of the Western Bulldogs and with added motivation farewelling stars Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Nic Naitanui.

Doedee’s future up in air after Crows pull offer

– Jon Ralph

Restricted free agent Tom Doedee is still mulling his future at the Crows after receiving a relatively modest contract offer after his second knee reconstruction.

This masthead can reveal Doedee had been offered a long-term deal at the Crows as a member of the leadership group and strong intercept marking defender.

Doedee had already torn his left ACL in 2019 but then in June tore his right ACL in a horror development for his contact talks.

Adelaide decided to park those talks to assess the situation, given the risk profile of a player returning from a second ACL tear.

The club’s revised offer was well short of the initial deal, which means Doedee has a decision to make on his future.

Tom Doedee is still mulling his future. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Brisbane had initial interest, but it is not known if they have lodged an offer for the 26-year-old.

Before he tore his ACL, he had averaged 15 possessions and 1.9 intercept marks in 12 games this season before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Gold Coast.

With only one round remaining in the home-and-away season, Doedee remains unsigned.

It seems likely his future will drift through the finals to the free agency period in the week after the Grand Final.

The Crows have unearthed some mid-sized defenders including Josh Worrell, Mitch Hinge, father-son Max Michalanney and 194cm Irishman Mark Keane across the season.

It means they would have to rejig their backline if he moved on – likely for a second-round compensation pick – but would be able to cope.

They might believe Worrell and Hinge can fulfil the Doedee role at a lesser contract value.

Clubs are within their rights to revise contract offers, given the changing circumstances of their lists.

The Crows have revised their deal for the free agent. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Doedee’s round 12 ACL tear means he should be back in the early rounds of 2023.

He took the decision not to elevate him to the captaincy in his stride as the Crows made Jordan Dawson the replacement for Rory Sloane.

The Crows are aware of the sensitivity of their contract discussions with such a respected and popular player.

They are also searching for key defenders given Nick Murray has also torn his ACL this year.

Clubs are scouring the AFL for key position defenders, with Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea expected to be offered five and six-year deals by rival clubs to lure him out of the Cats.

Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and Essendon have all had interest in Ratugolea.

Ben McKay’s recent strong form averaging 3.8 intercept marks means clubs including Sydney and Essendon could ramp up their chase for the Roos restricted free agent.

Industry sources said on Tuesday McKay would need to secure a three-year $800,000 deal from a rival to trigger first-round compensation and give the Roos the No.2 overall pick, linked to their first-round selection.