Crows coach Matthew Nicks says he is sure looming free agent Brad Crouch will re-sign
New Crows coach Matthew Nicks backs looming free agent midfielder Brad Crouch to stay at Adelaide, saying he “loves the club’’.
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New Crows coach Matthew Nicks says club champion midfielder Brad Crouch “loves the club’’ and he has backed him to reject free agency and ink a new deal.
With speculation that Crouch approached wooden spooner Gold Coast for a second time late in the trade period to push for a big money move north, Nicks said he’d had “good conversations’’ with him about his future and that he “can’t wait to get back to the club’’.
Asked if he was confident the 25-year-old, who enjoyed a career-best season this year to win his first Malcolm Blight Medal as Adelaide best and fairest, would re-sign, Nicks replied: “Yes, we are. You get to know people,’’ said Nicks.
“I'm confident that Brad wants to work for our side, that’s his priority.
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“That he wants to come in, wants to be a better footballer, wants to be a better footballer for our team. I’ve got no question about that.’’
Crouch is due to become a restricted free agent at the end of next season but was pursued by
St Kilda and the Suns this year.
It is understood the Saints baulked at his reported asking price of $900,000 a season
The Suns publicly expressed their interest in Crouch, with reports he had asked for a six-year deal worth close to $1 million a season.
But the Crows, who have made wholesale personnel changes after missing the finals in consecutive years, refused to put him on the trade table.
“Our industry is an interesting one,’’ Nicks said of the speculation surrounding the injury-plagued Crouch, who was one of seven Crows to play all 22 games for the club this year.
“Things are thrown around all the time.’’
Nicks said he had spoken to Victorian Crouch at length since being appointed coach last month and that he was in no doubt that he was committed to the Crows cause.
“Brad Crouch loves the club,’’ he said.
“Obviously I’ve had some good conversations with Brad around what’s gone on in the break, he’s in a great spot and he can’t wait to get back into the club.
“There are no issues around his love for the club.
“He’s a fantastic footballer who we are going to do everything we can to make him an even better footballer over the next two or three months (of pre-season training), like we are with every player.
“So my conversation with him, other than just seeing that he’s okay and asking how everything is going, has been the same with every player.’’
Crouch, who missed the entire 2018 season with a chronic groin injury, averaged a career-best 30.2 disposals this year while finishing second at the club for clearances (117) and tackles (111).
Unlike some senior teammates, including Brodie Smith, Tom Lynch, Bryce Gibbs and Luke Brown, Crouch did not attend the club’s first pre-season training run for second-to-fourth year players at West Lakes on Thursday but he will report for full training on Monday.
Asked if his ongoing contract status could be a distraction next season, Nicks said: “I hope not’’.