Former Crows senior assistant coach Scott Camporeale says Adelaide needs to keep Brad Crouch in its midfield next year

Does Brad Crouch have more value protecting Adelaide’s young midfielders or as a compensation draft pick? Ahead of what will be one of the most interesting signings of the off-season, a former Crow has broken down how the club should play it.

Will Brad Crouch be at Adelaide next year?

Scott Camporeale says Adelaide cannot afford to lose Brad Crouch in the off-season after revealing the Crows’ match committee once feared he may never play again while he battled a serious foot injury.

Speaking on ABC Grandstand on Saturday, the club’s former senior assistant coach says the Crows should resist temptation of trading their reigning club champion for a draft pick but should not offer him more than a three-year deal to stay.

Rival clubs are expected to offer the 26-year-old a four or five-year deal to entice him away from West Lakes as a free agent and if he goes, the Crows would receive a compensation draft pick based on the terms of the offer.

But Camporeale said Crouch’s performance against Hawthorn this week highlighted his importance to their young and emerging midfield.

“He’s still got value and you can see (in the last game) the importance of having some experienced, big, tough, hard bodies to help these younger guys develop,” Camporeale said.

“So when the midfield changes that second rotation, Brad comes off the bench and they’ve been using Matt (Crouch) and Brad alternatively, (Harry) Schoenberg and these guys actually grow a bit taller knowing ‘I’ve got Brad Crouch’ subconsciously.

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Brad Crouch with coach Matthew Nicks after the win over Hawthorn. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“It’s the same as top-four teams – Shai Bolton has been outstanding at Richmond but would he still be at the same level if he was with three younger guys still learning his craft? Or is he more comfortable knowing he's got Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin in there?

“So that’s the thing Adelaide needs to weigh up, yeah we can get another draft pick in but we need to still be able to develop and look after these younger kids while they’re learning their craft.”

Camporeale said Crouch had done remarkably well to recover from a career-threatening foot injury but the Crows should not match a five-year deal from rivals to keep him.

“I don’t see there would be any value in offering him five,” he said.

“If it was Matt who is a bit younger and has consistently played footy at a high level and still has plenty of years in him and been robust – since he’s come in he’s hardly missed a game – he would be different.

“Where as Brad, he’s done a great job and so has the high performance and medical team to get him back because two years ago we were all sitting in match committee thinking ‘geez he’s probably not going to play again’ which is unfortunate because he is a super talent.

“He came back last year and won the best-and-fairest, albeit in not a great year for the club, but he still played consistently well to win that (award).”

As Adelaide looks to rejuvenate its midfield in the off-season, Camporeale believes the two Crouch brothers are better together.

“Clearly they’ve got a connection because they’re brothers and know the way they play, and in terms of feedback for each other it’s brilliant,” he said.

“You come out at quarter time and they’re into it, which from a coaching point of view you want that passion and drive, and they’re two competitive beasts, why would you want to get rid of two competitive animals and they bring each other into the game?

“Yeah they’ve still got to work on potentially their kick and handball ratio, even though Matt has had a really good month I still think he’s over-handballing, and Brad can continue to get better with his kick.

“But no one has a perfect game and they do compliment each other.”

Adelaide should offer him a three-year deal, according to Scott Camporeale. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Adelaide football manager Adam Kelly said Crouch’s 27-disposal, eight-clearance game against Hawthorn on Tuesday night would not change their approach to contact negotiations.

“It was great to see him out there playing the footy he was on Tuesday night and great to have him back from injury,” Kelly said.

“It doesn’t really change the process that we go through, the discussions with Brad and his management while they’ve been happening throughout the year, given the post-season is only two weeks away for us, I think those discussions will really escalate.

“Brad is a great player, our club champion last year and good to see him get back to that sort of form on Tuesday night and we’re really pleased for him.”

Kelly revealed the Crows would target “speed, midfield depth and tall forwards” in the off-season but would draft the best available talent with its top selections.

He also addressed trade speculation about Orazio Fantasia and Jackson Hately potentially returning to SA.

“We’ll definitely be focused on utilisting our early selections at the draft but if we have opportunities to improve our list we will certainly entertain that,” Kelly said.

“The players we have been linked to are South Australians and it’s fairly natural they’re linked to ourselves and Port Adelaide.

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“We are open-minded and where we have the opportunity we will add players that fit some of those needs on our list.”

The Crows are back in action against GWS at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night. Wayne Milera has been ruled out for the season with his foot injury but Will Hamill (concussion) played in their trial game on Friday and is expected to be available to play Carlton in Round 17 which is also the goal for Tom Lynch (hamstring).

Originally published as Former Crows senior assistant coach Scott Camporeale says Adelaide needs to keep Brad Crouch in its midfield next year