Adelaide Crows news: Matt Crouch opens up in exclusive interview ahead of his return game

Matt Crouch’s comeback from injury hit a roadblock last year and the probe into the club’s racism saga sent things spiralling out on control. But now the rocky road appears behind him.

New contract. First house. Getting engaged.

Season-long injury. Caught up in a teammate’s racism saga. Unable to go home for Christmas due to Covid.

Matt Crouch’s 2021 was special in some ways, testing in many others.

This time last year was when his rollercoaster 12 months began.

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He played in the Crows’ Community Series match against Port Adelaide in March and was on track to feature in Round 1, only to withdraw after experiencing groin soreness at training.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said that it was tough to set a timeline for his return.

Ultimately, Crouch would not feature at AFL level.

His issue seemed to stem from hip surgery the previous off-season.

It led to him going under the knife again mid-year in a bid to play, before aborting his comeback attempt after one SANFL match.

Matt Crouch has opened up on his time at Adelaide and revealed he can't wait to get back on the field for some real footy.

Pain came doing simple things like getting out of bed.

Frustration at the first long-term injury of his career lingered throughout the season.

Looking back, Crouch concedes he was not even close to playing at AFL level last year.

“When I was trying to get back and train and get back to play, it would get worse when I put load through and train on it,” Crouch, 26, tells News Corp.

“It was pretty painful.

“When it starts affecting everyday life, it becomes a bit more than just footy.

“It was hard to pinpoint exactly whether it had anything to do with the hip or they were intertwined – they probably were.”

Crouch’s hip issue was manageable.

His groin problem got on top of him.

It was niggling away in the Community Series match against Port Adelaide but he “didn’t think it was as bad as what it ended up being”.

Matt Crouch’s 2021 was a struggle on the injury front. Picture: Tom Huntley

Crouch would end up spending more time in rehabilitation than he did training.

“I had different stages where I’d flare up and couldn’t do much,” he says.

“I tried to get back going and training again, but I lost a fair bit of momentum and I probably wasn’t moving the way I’d like.

“An AFL game requires you to play at a certain level and I probably wasn’t at that level, missing so much training and being fairly sore.”

Crouch’s brother, former Crows teammate turned St Kilda midfielder Brad Crouch, was a sounding board throughout his injury struggles.

Brad was sidelined for the entire 2018 campaign with a similar groin issue and saw the same surgeon.

His main advice was that the 2017 All-Australian and Crows’ best-and-fairest would get back to full health.

“It was good to have someone to chat to when at times rehab can be a pretty lonely place while all the boys are out there playing,” Crouch says.

“When you’re going through a phase of injury like that, you question if your body is going to hold up to the rigours of an AFL environment.

“Obviously with the Covid situation and being from Victoria, they couldn’t get to South Australia much, but I was on the phone to my family, close friends and my partner Ellie was brilliant through it all as well.”

Crows midfielder Matt Crouch is ready to return to the field. Picture: Sarah Reed

The lowest point for Crouch was after his mid-season surgery because he “bounced out of that” thinking he was going to be fine again and returned via the SANFL two months later.

One look at the stats sheet would suggest he ticked the boxes required to put himself in the frame for an AFL call-up in that single match.

He finished with 28 disposals and a team-high eight clearances, prompting Crows SANFL coach Michael Godden to say: “He looked like he was sharp physically and I thought he contributed really well”.

“I thought I was on the right track,” Crouch says.

“Up until that game I was feeling pretty good and thought I was through the worst of it, but after that game I just went backwards.

“I was probably then chasing the tail to get back and play from then on.

“I was in a bit of a hole for a week or two afterwards.

“You hold hope that you’ll eventually play some games of footy but it wasn’t to be.”

Not only was Crouch’s comeback soured, he had to face an AFL probe into teammate Taylor Walker’s racial slur to North Adelaide player Robbie Young.

Walker made the comment on the field in front of Crouch while at the game as a spectator.

Crouch says the club is supportive of Taylor Walker since last year’s racism saga. Picture: Adelaide Football Club

The AFL handed Walker a six-game ban in August.

“I spoke to the AFL integrity guys but that story and situation has unfolded,” Crouch says.

“It was obviously a hard time for the footy club and we’re working through that now.

“We’re over that now and we’re looking forward.”

Crouch does not go into detail about Walker’s experience, saying only: “When people are going through tough times, you put your arm around them and you support people who are struggling”.

“Both Tex and the Indigenous boys got great support from the footy club,” he says.

“We’re a strong-knit footy club, a strong group and were able to get through that period.”

Barred by the AFL from playing in the Crows’ two practice matches, Walker will serve the remaining three minor-round games of his ban and be available for selection in Round 4.

“Tex has had a great pre-season, the boys have been really supportive of him and the club’s been really supportive of him,” Crouch says.

A month after Walker’s suspension was handed down, Crouch re-signed with the Crows for two more years.

He was unsure if there was less interest from rival clubs and steadfast he wanted to stay at the club regardless.

“It strung out a little bit because it was tough while I wasn’t playing to justify a contract, which I found challenging at times,” he says.

“I couldn’t go out there and show I was still a good player at the level.

“I’m glad that it got sorted and I’m here for the next two years.

“Me and my partner really enjoy the lifestyle here and love the footy club, and I’ve got some great friends in Adelaide now.”

September started with Crouch’s two-year commitment to the Crows and ended with a lifelong one to his partner Ellie.

Crouch proposed on the main beach in Noosa, where the couple holidayed.

They are getting married in the Adelaide Hills this October.

“I was a bit nervous beforehand but it was good to get the job done,” he says.

“It’s an exciting time for both of us.

“I think my partner will do a lot of that planning and I’ll chip in where I can.”

Last October, Crouch cemented his ties to SA, purchasing his first house.

“I’d been renting in Adelaide since I’d been here and thought it was probably time I bought something,” says the 2013 No.23 draft pick.

Crouch had his latest bout of groin surgery that same month.

He has since built into pre-season under the guidance of new head of high performance

Darren Burgess and is feeling good after playing in both of Adelaide’s practice games.

His only summer setback came in December when he had Covid, which stopped him from heading home to Victoria to see his family for Christmas.

Sitting in the stands each week as the Crows finished 15th with a 7-15 record wore thin for Crouch last year, so he is glad to be back on the field.

“It’s good to be pain-free, be able to run and all the things I love to do … and be playing footy again,” he says.

“I want to play every game and have a real impact on the season.

“I’m confident we can see some good improvements from our team this year, which I can’t wait for.”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows news: Matt Crouch opens up in exclusive interview ahead of his return game