Brad Crouch confirms the Saints have contacted his management team but says he is happy at Adelaide
St Kilda has ramped up its chase for Brad Crouch, with the Crows midfielder confirming his management has had contact with the Saints but stating he is happy at Adelaide.
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Ace Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch has confirmed St Kilda has spoken to his management team about his future.
But the 25-year-old ball magnet, who becomes a restricted free agent at the end of 2020, said he was happy at the Crows and had not thought about leaving.
“In my situation I haven’t had any contact with any clubs other than Adelaide,’’ he told FIVEaa in response to reports that the Saints, who the Crows play at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, had made him a priority signing.
“Like a lot of different players would have experienced throughout the AFL, other clubs can go to your management, even with three years left on your contract, and say ‘is Brad happy, what do you think about coming wherever?’
“That sort of thing happens all the time and it's happened to my manager (W Sport and Media).
“It would have happened to 15 blokes at the footy club, through their managers, that’s all it is.
“My manager straight away said Brad is enjoying himself at the footy club and just wants to play footy.’’
Crouch has played every game for the Crows this year and ranks fifth in the AFL for disposals (553 at an average of 30.7) after failing to play a game last season because of a chronic groin injury which required surgery.
Brad and his brother, Matt, also scoffed at suggestions from dual Crows premiership coach Malcolm Blight that the club should look at trading them to Gold Coast for picks one and two at this year’s national draft.
“I wouldn't have thought (that would happen),’’ Matt said.
The pair said reports that multiple players had discussed walking out of the club as being wide of the mark.
“Guys aren't happy when you are losing, it’s hard to have a positive environment in that situation and weighs down on everyone,’’ Matt said, adding under-fire coach Don Pyke had not lost the respect of the playing group.
Brad said there had been no discussion about players’ futures inside the inner sanctum.
“You hardly hear any of that at the footy club, you don’t talk about it to people because it’s rude to do that and ask if you are talking to different clubs or anything, you don't ask anyone,’’ he said.