Brad Crouch breaks his silence following drug scandal as Power slash offer

Brad Crouch has spoken out for the first time after he and a teammate were stopped by police and subsequently suspended by the AFL.

Orazio looks headed to the Crows in 2021.

Adelaide star Brad Crouch has spoken for the first time since being embroiled in a drug scandal following the end of the Crows’ season.

The midfielder who was one of the hottest commodities on the AFL market when his value took a hit after he was stopped by police.

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Crouch and teammate Tyson Stengle were stopped by police in Adelaide on a Monday morning in late September and allegedly found to be in possession of an illicit substance.

The pair were handed suspensions by the AFL with Crouch copping a two-week ban while Stengle was hit with a four-week ban.

Crouch and Stengle were not charged by police but they were referred to counselling under a drug diversion program.

Now the Crows star has spoken about the “nightmare” he found himself in following the scandal coming to light.

“The end of the season is obviously a dangerous period for all players in the AFL and the first week or so where you have a chance to go out and have drink together,” Crouch said on FIVEaa.

“It was a massive error in judgment and you’re very cloudy because I had a massive night and you’re not thinking at that stage when you’re heavily intoxicated about what could happen in the future.

“The timing was absolutely terrible, I’m still not sure how much of an affect it’s going to have on that (contract) stuff.

“(But) you also think about the impact it has not just on my footy stuff but long-term, it’s always going to be there but I just want to make sure it doesn’t define me as a person at all.”

Crouch offer slashed by Power.

Crouch has been linked with a return to Victorian. He has also been linked with a move to cross-town rival Port Adelaide.

The shift to the bitter rival would make showdowns a fiery spectacle and on Tuesday the Power put their offer forward to secure the most wanted man on the market.

“I’ll go as far as saying Port Adelaide has made it clear where they stand,” Michelangelo Rucci said on SEN SA Drive.

“It is no longer a four-year deal, it is three and it is no longer (up for) haggling, it is ‘this is the deal in the envelope for (Crouch’s manager) Gary Winter, take it or leave it’.

“Now, I would daresay the fact that Gary Winter hasn’t gone back to Port Adelaide is saying ‘well, that is all you’re offering, we’ll move on’ and I think the next move on is Geelong.

“Geelong is probably the one that will give him four (years).

“The landscape has changed dramatically for Brad Crouch in the last 12 months.”

FANTASIA DEAL ‘EXPECTED TO GET DONE’

Essendon are set to have a busy off-season with several players requesting a trade away from the struggling club.

Stars including Adam Saad, Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia have been linked with landing at new homes for the 2021 season and beyond.

Fantasia only managed to play in five games throughout the 2020 season because of injury and is reported to be seeking a return home to South Australia.

While no preference as to which South Australian club he would land at, Adelaide quickly emerged as the frontrunner to nab the goalsneak.

Fantasia will most likely be a Crow in 2021.

Now Triple M’s Jay Clark has said the trade will come down to how Essendon value Fantasia’s worth.

“I’d be surprised at this stage if Adelaide can’t bring home the deal from here, certainly at this stage the expectation is that they’ll be able to do the deal,” Clark said on Triple M’s Rush Hour with Bernie and Jars.

“What that actually looks like, what Essendon is going to demand is going to be very interesting.

“There’s a guy who’s only played 33 games over the past three years, he’s had a quad, hamstring, all sorts of injury issues.

“What is he worth, boys? I don’t think he’s got first round currency anymore.

“I think this negotiation’s going to have to focus on a second-round pick.”