Adelaide’s Matt Crouch polls 315 votes to easily win club champion crown for 2017
MATT Crouch has repaid Adelaide’s faith in bucketloads.
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MATT Crouch has repaid Adelaide’s faith in bucketloads.
Recruited with the draft pick (No. 23) the Crows secured for controversially trading fan favourite Bernie Vince to Melbourne at the end of 2013, Crouch last night followed his first All-Australian selection with a maiden club champion crown.
The 22-year-old midfield ball magnet polled 315 votes to easily win his first gold jacket by 62 votes from dual Malcolm Blight Medallist Rory Sloane (253) and playmaking defender Rory Laird (226).
Lead ruckman Sam Jacobs was rewarded for a super-consistent season by finishing fourth (224 votes) a year after failing to make the top 10.
Veteran Richard Douglas (219) and captain Taylor Walker (211) rounded out the top six for the beaten grand finalist.
Crouch won more disposals than any other player in the AFL this season, with 825 at an average of 33 — the highest in Crows’ history, beating the 32.7 average set by inaugural club captain Chris McDermott in 1992.
He was a model of consistency, polling votes in all 25 of Adelaide’s games, including three finals, and being named in the Crows’ top two nine times.
Crouch brought hardness to the Adelaide midfield, with his average of 13.4 contested possessions being a team-high.
Admitting to being shy and quiet in the Crows’ clubhouse, Crouch this year let his football do his talking while revealing he made a concerted effort to show more on-field leadership.
“I think the best players lead by example and that’s something I feel on game day I can do pretty well,’’ he said.
The disappointment in voting was pocket rocket Eddie Betts, who finished 10th with 187 votes after being one of three Adelaide players to make this year’s All-Australian team, along with Crouch and Laird.
Betts won the Crows’ goalkicking with 55 goals but by his own admission did not have one of his best seasons.
Departing key defender Jake Lever, who it is understood was controversially told by the club not to attend last night’s club champion count at the Adelaide Convention Centre, finished 11th with 168 votes.
The 21-year-old is demanding a trade to Melbourne.
Speedy Charlie Cameron, who is seeking a move to his home State of Queensland, finished 13th with 164 votes.
Adelaide’s best team man award — named after former coach, the late Phil Walsh — went to 2010 club champion Douglas, while the emerging talent award was won by second-year midfielder/forward Wayne Milera, who averaged 16 disposals in 16 games.
Retiring star Scott Thompson, who played just one AFL game this year for a career total of 308, was acknowledged for his strong form in the SANFL by being named State League club champion.
Walker and Dr Andrew Potter were made life members.
andrew.capel@news.com.au
Originally published as Adelaide’s Matt Crouch polls 315 votes to easily win club champion crown for 2017
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