AFL 2022: All the Adelaide Crows news ahead of Round 18 clash with Collingwood
Adelaide is still calling Matt Crouch a big part of its future. But as what, Matt Turner asks, an experienced SANFL star? These are the big questions, and the possible answers.
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Matt Crouch has become the running theme of Matthew Nicks’s Friday press conferences.
They usually go something like this.
Journalist: Why has Crouch been dropped?
Nicks: Midfield balance, he has some things we want him to work on, plus young guys like Sam Berry and Jake Soligo are going really well, so it’s more about what we have in there.
Journalist: How did Matt take it?
Nicks: Like all players who get dropped, he is frustrated and it’s a tough one, but he understands, so he will go away and work on his game.
Journalist: What more can he do?
Nicks: Just keep playing well and he’ll get an opportunity again at some point when his form warrants it.
Journalist: Do you want him at the club next year?
Nicks: I’ve told him we do. He’s a big part of what we’re building.
The question Crouch will be asking himself after his latest axing this week – his third this season, all in the space of 10 rounds – is why stay?
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Unless there are a handful of long-term injuries, it seems probable that 2023 will be similar for Crouch if he remains at the Crows, where he is contracted for another year.
The club is in a rebuild, giving more midfield opportunities to the likes of Berry, Soligo and Harry Schoenberg, similar types such as leadership group member Ben Keays and reigning best-and-fairest Rory Laird are ahead of him in the pecking order, and captain Rory Sloane will be back from his knee injury.
Then factor in recruits and draftees.
Crouch, an All-Australian and best-and-fairest winner in 2017, will have played 11 of Adelaide’s 17 games after this week.
At 27 years old, turning 28 in April, the Victorian is spending the prime of his career as a fringe AFL player who collects 40-odd possessions with ease in the SANFL.
It does not make a lot of sense for him to do the same thing next season.
From the outside, Crouch seeking a trade feels likely.
Even though he told Channel 10 on Friday that he wanted to see out the remainder of his contract at the club.
Plenty can change from now to the trade period ending.
Nicks said the Crows would not stand in the way of any player asking to leave.
“We’ll work with that player on what we can do to make it best for them and best for the footy club,” Nicks said.
If the Crows were able to get a second-round pick for Crouch, it could be a win-win.
He would get a fresh start – not unlike his brother and former teammate, Brad, at St Kilda – with the expectation of more AFL opportunities.
Adelaide could either use the pick or package it up in a trade to address squad needs like midfield polish, an on-baller who can kick goals or another key defender.
The Crows would drive down Crouch’s trade value if they said publicly, at round 18, he was not in their plans.
Instead, they are calling him a big part of their future – but as what?
A back-up option and experienced SANFL star?
Crouch’s form has been mixed but finding the ball and extracting it from contests remains no issue, as evidenced by his average of 27.3 disposals at the elite level in 2022.
He did not play any AFL games last season due to a nagging groin problem then re-signed in September on a two-year deal.
Crouch played six successive AFL matches to start this campaign before being dropped for the first time after arguably the Crows’ worst loss – a 59-point hiding by GWS in April.
Last week he came in as a late replacement for forward Shane McAdam.
Crouch registered 28 disposals, six tackles and seven clearances in the 32-point defeat to the Hawks but could not hold his spot.
Adelaide opted for the midfield mix it had when it beat North Melbourne and challenged the Demons.
Nicks said his latest weekly talk with Crouch was a lot shorter.
“I’m not saying it was purely amicable with the two of us chatting back and forth,” he said.
“It was ‘OK’, he understands.
“I’ll keep coming back to – who are you going to take out of our midfield?”
When asked about Crouch being overlooked, Adelaide’s coaches typically have two deflection manoeuvres.
Talk about the impressive development of Berry, Soligo and co.
Or mention how other SANFL players, like Billy Frampton and Ben Davis, are also frustrated that their good state-league form is not being rewarded.
The Crows can justify the selection however they want but questions will keep being asked if someone of Crouch’s standing at the club continues to be snubbed at selection.
He is an All-Australian and Malcolm Blight Medallist from the Crows’ grand final campaign, runner-up best-and-fairest the following season and a member of the club’s leadership group as recently as last year.
On Friday, Nicks acknowledged that while also showing signs the topic was wearing thin.
When a question came that he felt he had already answered, he responded: “are you going to ask me it in a thousand different ways?”
The coach later said that Crouch would be back in the side if he could return to his 2017 form and the team looked at its midfield balance.
Crouch is a similar player to five years ago, at least in terms of what he does and does not do well.
Problem is, the Crows are a much different outfit, in a totally different phase, no longer a premiership contender, now in a rebuild.
Nearly three seasons into it they have a 5-11 record and Crouch is on the outer.
It remains to be seen if Nicks will be answering questions about him as an Adelaide player next season.
Is Crouch edging closer to door at Crows?
Midfielder Matt Crouch’s spot in Adelaide’s AFL side looks to again be in jeopardy ahead of Saturday’s game against Collingwood.
Crouch, who had been dropped twice this year and was a late replacement for forward Shane McAdam last weekend against Hawthorn, trained with the reserves during match simulation at West Lakes on Wednesday.
Those line-ups have typically indicated team selections this year, particularly for Saturday games.
Crouch registered 28 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles in the 32-point loss to the Hawks at Marvel Stadium.
McAdam (ankle) seems likely to replace Crouch after completing the match simulation in the top team.
Teammate Sam Berry was unsure if the training line-ups would be the same as the sides chosen on Thursday night.
Berry backed Crouch, saying the 27-year-old’s attitude had been great around the squad and he had handled his omission really well.
“He obviously played some pretty good footy in the SANFL, came back in and showed why he should be playing (AFL),” he said.
Sunday’s match was Crouch’s 11th in the AFL this season and first in three weeks.
The 2017 All-Australian has played four matches in the SANFL, having been omitted after rounds 7 and 14.
Adelaide’s coaches have cited midfield balance, the form of his teammates and needing Crouch to be more damaging as reasons behind his axings.
Against the Hawks, he had 102 metres gained – the seventh-fewest on the ground.
Crouch is contracted for next season but has been urged by some outsiders, including former Crow Bryce Gibbs, to leave the club at the end of the campaign.
Half-back Will Hamill also trained with Adelaide’s reserves, indicating he might make way for Mitch Hinge’s return from Covid.
Hinge is expected to be available despite not training on Wednesday.
Last week’s medical substitute, Ben Davis, also spent the match simulation with the reserves.
Midfielder/forward Luke Pedlar rejoined the main group this week after overcoming an adductor strain.
He is in line to return via the SANFL against North Adelaide in Whyalla on Saturday.
Why Tex chose his heart over finals and a two-year deal
—Matt Turner
To move interstate on a two-year deal and join a team potentially in finals contention.
Or remain a Crow for life for less money with an eye on post-football opportunities in SA.
That was what Taylor Walker had been weighing up in recent weeks before he re-signed with Adelaide on Tuesday until the end of 2023.
Walker’s strong form had prompted two clubs, including one premiership contender, to inquire mid-season and offer two-year deals, hoping to lure the in-form veteran.
The key forward spoke with his wife, Ellie, about the possibility of heading interstate with their children, Hugo, 2, and Louis, 1, to finish his career.
There was genuine consideration.
It would have been understandable after his racial vilification ban last August if Walker had wanted to escape the spotlight of Adelaide for the remainder of his playing days.
But the 32-year-old never had a meeting with the other clubs.
His heart was with the Crows.
He wanted to be a one-club player at the team he barracked for as a youngster, joined as a 16-year-old, debuted for at 18, became captain of at 24 and led to a grand final at 27.
As frustrated as he is with Adelaide’s position in 15th with a 5-11 record, Walker is just as determined to help his young teammates develop and get the club back into the finals picture.
Adelaide, which had been hopeful of re-signing Walker, opened contract talks with him about three weeks ago.
A deal was worked through pretty quickly once he chose to stay.
Although Walker had pushed for a two-year contract and been offered that by rival clubs, the Crows put forward a 12-month deal.
Adelaide football boss Adam Kelly told SEN SA that was because of the increased risk at Walker’s age of whether his standout performances would continue.
Walker and the Crows have left the door open for him to extend his career in 2024, depending on his form, body and the club’s list.
“If Tex is continuing to play the outstanding football that he is, there’s no expiry date,” Kelly said.
“Hopefully this time next year we can be talking about how well he’s playing again and be having a similar conversation.”
While a club change would have provided a new start, it would have been very difficult for Walker to leave.
His family is settled in Adelaide, the Broken Hill product has lived here for almost half his life and Ellie is a local.
Then there is his loyalty to the Crows, who have stuck by him through the racial vilification saga, and his teammates.
Post-football opportunities in the game and media might also beckon for Walker in SA.
His profile and popularity in the state remain high.
He has spots on Triple M, as well as Channel 7, and he is helping to develop youngsters in Prince Alfred College’s football program.
Walker loves passing on advice to the next generation of footballers, both at the Crows and outside the club, so a mentoring role may appeal once he hangs up the boots.
Even if he had joined a finals contender, there would be no guarantee of success.
Adelaide not making the top eight since finishing runner-up in 2017 and the Western Bulldogs’ fall this year are just two examples of how quickly things can change in the AFL.
By a similar token, Walker has not resigned himself to ending his career without a premiership despite the Crows’ position.
“Who knows? If you sat here last year, I bet you wouldn’t have said Freo would be where they are,” Walker said.
“It can turn pretty quickly.”
WHY TEX CHOSE TO STAY LOYAL TO CROWS
Taylor Walker felt he owed it to Adelaide to turn his back on rival offers and re-sign after the Crows stood by him in the wake of his racial vilification saga.
Former captain Walker, who extended his contract by one year on Tuesday, said he considered moving interstate to play elsewhere but instead wanted to stay loyal and finish his career at West Lakes.
Tuesday was Walker’s first press conference since the one he fronted to apologise for racially vilifying North Adelaide’s Robbie Young at a SANFL game, which led to a six-game ban.
The 32-year-old said if someone had told him then that he would be re-signing almost a year later, he probably would not have believed them.
Walker stepped away from the club when his suspension began before returning for pre-season as Adelaide stuck by him.
“It’s pretty well-documented what occurred last year and the club have been outstanding in integrating me back into the footy club,” Walker said.
“That’s certainly a little factor of what helped me make my decision as well.
“I said nearly 12 months ago that my ability to integrate back into the group and build my relationships with the ones that I’ve broken were my key.
“Football wasn’t really my priority.
“Have I got work to do? Yeah, always.
“Until the day I drop off this planet I’m still going to be doing work in that area.
“But getting back playing footy has given me a bit of an outlet.
“In the end it was a pretty easy to decision to stay here
“I love South Australia, I love Adelaide, Ellie’s from here, my boys were born here, there’s a lot of alignment to this great state and I want to get our footy club back to playing finals.”
Walker, the club’s all-time leading goal kicker, has been rewarded for his strong form this season, in which he has booted 31 majors from 12 games.
He served the last three matches of his ban this year, delaying the start of his campaign until Round 4.
Walker said he and the club’s Indigenous players were taking small steps in their relationships, and they were going in the right direction.
“I feel very comfortable with where it’s at,” he said.
“I’ll just continue to chip away and earn that trust and respect back as much as I can.”
Asked if he would have understood if Adelaide wanted to part ways last year, given what happened, Walker said: “Ifs, buts and candy nuts, that didn’t happen so there’s no point worrying about what could have and should have”.
“I’m back here and we’re going on for a 16th season,” he said.
Walker said he had learnt a lot about himself over the past year, which included being very resilient.
“I’ve just been very grateful to my family and friends, mentors and coaches that I’ve had,” he said.
In 2020, Walker looked near the end of his career, kicking just 15 goals from 14 matches while battling a knee problem.
Since then, he has been one of the Crows’ best players.
Walker had asked for a two-year deal but understood why he signed for one and enjoyed the fact it kept him on edge.
He left the door open for him to continue beyond the end of 2023.
“I don’t know how long I want to play for,” he said.
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Official: Tex signs on for another year with Crows
Adelaide has re-signed former captain Taylor Walker to a one-year deal.
Walker, the club’s all-time leading goal kicker, has been rewarded for his strong form this season in which he has booted 31 majors from 12 games.
The 32-year-old forward’s career had been in jeopardy last August when he received a six-game racial vilification ban for abusing North Adelaide’s Robbie Young at a SANFL match.
Walker initially stepped away from the club before returning for pre-season as Adelaide stuck by him.
He served the last three matches of his ban this year, delaying the start of his campaign until Round 4.
Walker said he was going into his 16th season and still had a lot to offer the get the club back to where it belongs.
“I’m not going to lie and say there wasn’t any interest to go elsewhere but for me the family support here, the Crow for life sits … all of that sits pretty close to my heart so it was a fairly straight forward decision,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“Just nice to know that I don’t have to hold a lollipop stick next year.
“I know the process we’re on. I understand the frustration out there that, ‘where’s our rebuild? What direction is it going?’… I’m clear in what way we’re going.
“My minds healthy, my body is healthy … you never know what’s around the corner so I’ll play for as long as I can.
“I love South Australia, I love Adelaide … Ellie’s from here, my boys were born here, there’s a lot of alignment to this great state.”
Walker said his new contract meant a lot to him because it would make him a Crow for life.
“As one of the older blokes going around, I am also very proud that I can still contribute both on and off the field,” Walker.
“While it has been a difficult period for our club on the field, I get a real buzz from helping the younger guys improve and we are making progress.
“We all want to get back up the ladder as quickly as possible and I know some of our members and fans are finding these times frustrating.
“We can’t lose sight of the bigger picture though and we have been able to match it with teams that will be challenging for the flag for lengthy periods this season.”
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said Walker remained a crucial part of the team and praised his form.
“Taylor sets an example for our young players in how to prepare and perform on game day and to be playing the type of footy he is into his 30s is a credit to him,” Nicks said.
“In addition to regularly hitting the scoreboard, his experience in helping develop and guide our next generation of forwards is invaluable and can never be underestimated.
“We are very pleased that he will still be a big part of what we are building and look forward to him continuing to make an impact.”
Crows will ‘stick to the process’ despite rebuild backlash
Adelaide assistant coach Nathan van Berlo says the Crows will continue to “stick to the process” despite a loss to Hawthorn that has raised questions about how the rebuild is going at West Lakes.
A woeful start by the Crows led to their 32-point loss to Hawthorn, who had been on a five-game losing streak coming into the match at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
It leaves the Crows at 5-11, and has reignited questions about the rebuild.
The Crows won seven games last year and could struggle to win the same amount of games in 2022, with a run home that features Collingwood, Sydney, Carlton, West Coast, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
But van Berlo said the Crows coaches were happy with the improvement they have witnessed this season.
“In terms of my time since I have come back in the last 18 months I feel like we have made some really positive growth in terms of where we are heading as a club,” he said.
“Last year we implemented some consistency in our game style, that has gone to another level now.
“Yes there are elements that we have to get better at but if you look at last year we lose DMac (David McKay), Tom Lynch, Paul Seedsman isn’t playing this year, Daniel Talia isn’t here, (Rory) Sloane hasn’t been playing so we lose some significant experience around our growth.
“And on field experience which will benefit us in the long run, so our ability to stay in the game for longer has been a real pleasing aspect.
“The next step is that we turn that into results for us.
“It is process driven for us, when that table turns it turns. It’s not around it is going to be next week or six months time.
“We will just stick to the process and those results will come.”
Despite the pressure and questions about the direction of the club ramping up again following the loss to the Hawks, van Berlo said the players were not losing patience.
“No I don’t think so, provided that you can believe in the growth you are showing,” he said.
“Internally we can players growing, individuals growing and taking their game to the next level and don’t worry there is still a winning culture around what we want.”
The performance by the Crows in the first quarter especially left a sour taste in the mouth of Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks, who post game said he was more glass half empty because of his side’s lack of contest.
Van Berlo said he was pleased with how the Crows responded, especially in the third and fourth quarters.
And he said he wasn’t all that concerned by Rory Laird’s low amount of metres gained, despite the reigning club champion’s 42 disposals.
Laird’s 42 disposals yielded 298m gained at Marvel Stadium, an average of 7.09m per disposal.
Ben Keays’s 30 disposals were at an average of 7.1m, while back in the side Matt Crouch had 28 disposals but just 98m gained.
“Sometimes metres gained for a midfielder can be misleading,” van Berlo said.
“Sometimes Lairdy can break lines and other times it can be about net metres gain and how he can get the ball to a player and away they go.”
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