Midfielder Brad Crouch inks four-year contract extension at Adelaide

BRAD Crouch says the lure of a flag — not his brother Matt — has kept him at Adelaide for at least another four years. Listen to Crouch’s press conference.

A happy Brad Crouch after signing a new deal with Adelaide. Picture: Roger Wyman

BRAD Crouch says the lure of a flag — not his brother Matt — has kept him at Adelaide for at least another four years.

Revealing he had strongly considered returning home to Victoria at the end of the season, the star midfielder said he is convinced the Crows are a force to be reckoned with and can contend for the premiership until at least the end of 2020 when his new contract expires.

“The biggest reason I stayed is that we’ve got a really strong list and I think we’re going to be very successful over the next four years and hopefully longer,’’ said Crouch, 22, who Friday ended months of speculation about his future by inking a four-year contract extension worth about $2.2 million.

His new deal follows the five-year contract extension to key forward Josh Jenkins, securing two key parts of Adelaide’s future.

“We are a really strong club, I’ve got good friendships here, a bond with the playing group and coaches and think there is something special we can achieve,’’ Crouch said.

“There is a sense between us all that we should achieve something in the next few years and I want to be a part of that.”

Crouch, born at Beaufort in country Victoria and a product of the North Ballarat under-18s, says the Crows can shock the football fraternity and win a flag as early as this year, despite dual Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson declaring they are too inexperienced.

“It’s a very even finals series, there is no clear standout, so we’re as good a chance as anyone,’’ Crouch said.

Crouch at West Lakes after the announcement today. Picture: Roger Wyman.

Crouch, who because of injury has played only 36 AFL games since being selected by Adelaide as a 17-year-old access player following a trade with GWS in 2011, said his run of bad luck and the death of former coach Phil Walsh last year had made him consider returning to Victoria.

“Early in the season and probably over the past couple of years when things weren’t going so well, there was the injury (broken foot) last year and obviously the death of Phil that have been very hard to deal with,’’ he said.

“So there’s definitely been times when I have thought I might be better off back home in Victoria.’’

Crouch had no shortage of suitors, with triple premier Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Essendon all linked to the ace on-baller.

“Mum and dad are at home in Ballarat so when things weren’t going so well for me here I thought maybe a change of club could be good but I never really got serious with that,’’ he said.

As for his younger brother Matt being at Adelaide, Crouch said he didn’t come into the stay-or-go equation.

“A lot of people say it’s your brother (that will keep him here) but it wouldn’t be hard moving away from him’’, Crouch joked.

Crouch, runner-up for the Rising Star award in 2013, didn’t play an AFL game last year because of foot problems and was held back early this season by injuries and modest form.

But he has displayed his standout qualities in the past seven weeks where he has been one of Adelaide’s best players.