WRFL 2019: AFL premiership player Trent Croad training at Altona
Hawthorn premiership player Trent Croad has explained why he’s giving footy another crack, six years after he last hit the field and the reason behind his move to Altona.
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Trent Croad was once a member of a happy team at Hawthorn.
He featured in the club’s famous 2008 grand final triumph as the underdog toppled the indomitable Geelong and made 222 appearances over 12 years for the Hawks and Fremantle.
A broken foot sustained in the decider ended his career prematurely in 2010.
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Croad hasn’t always enjoyed happy times since his retirement from the top level, with some difficult lows punctuating his journey outside the AFL bubble.
But the 39-year-old is bursting with enthusiasm as he strives to complete a shock footy comeback.
He has been training with Western Region Football League club Altona — home to former AFL-listed players Jayden Post (Richmond), Patrick Rose and Luke Goetz (both Western Bulldogs) — for the past three weeks.
Croad rated his chances of taking the field this season as “50-50”.
But the ability to rediscover his love for his chosen sport and develop new friendships has him smiling.
Croad was told he would never run again — a difficult reality for anyone — after damaging his foot.
But he is getting fitter with every session as he aims to run out for his first game since 2013, when he suffered an achilles injury while representing De La Salle in the VAFA.
He is also content off the field and has been with Kate Jesaulenko, the daughter of AFL legend Alex, for the past year.
“I’ve had a really hard few years and I obviously met Katie and now I’m running again,” Croad said.
“In respect to the club’s culture and the club’s plan and what they’ve got going on, it’s 50-50 at the moment.
“The club and I have spoken and the second half of the season looks good, as long as my feet aren’t sore.
“The best thing is just to be running again. I was told I was never going to run after the 2008 grand final.
“I’m moving well and just building myself back up to it again.
“I want to obviously thank the Altona Football Club and it’s a real credit to them to allow me to have an opportunity.”
Eyebrows were raised when news broke of Croad’s bid to play again.
He said he was yet to officially put pen to paper with Altona as he cautiously builds his fitness base.
But Croad’s hunger has returned and he is running each morning with Kate’s encouragement.
He has also come a long way from his first training run with the Vikings.
“They had a 90-minute session in my first session and Kate had to get me out of bed like a crab in the morning,” Croad said with a laugh.
“I couldn’t move.
“So I spent the following night at Altona next to the pier for about an hour and a half.”
Croad is grateful to Altona for the opportunity, while coach Saade Ghazi conceded it was not going to be easy for the key position player to achieve his ambitions.
“We’re always open to anybody who wants to come to our footy club,” Ghazi said.
“We’re a community club. I think we have that responsibility, I guess, to give everyone an opportunity.
“For me, age is no barrier, as long as they fit into our structure and they want to do the work.”
After being drafted to Hawthorn as a 17-year-old in 1997, Croad noted he could be the oldest player on Altona’s list if his push to play again is successful.
He has been impressed by the standard of training at the Division 1 outfit as the Vikings look to end Deer Park’s run of six consecutive flags.
“The way the club is run, it’s fantastic,” Croad said.
“It’s just such a wonderful environment.
“It’s amazing coming from an era where you needed bulk and strength and you were in one-on-one contests … the biggest difference I’ve noticed is the running ability of these guys is phenomenal.
“When I played it was all one-on-one and you had to beat someone physically with your size. Here, it’s mostly a running game.
“But there’s a wonderful, wonderful agenda down at Altona.”
Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney has also signed with Spotswood but suffered a hamstring injury in his first appearance against Albion last month.
Jack Redpath (Deer Park) and Andrejs Everitt (Yarraville-Seddon) were other big name signings over the off-season.
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