The Phantom on the Crouch brothers: Matt is more accomplished but is he really the better player?

The Crouch brothers; one is an All-Australian and Club Champion and the other has played just 20 games in the past two seasons. But the debate about who is the better player must remain open, says The Phantom.

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The Crouch brothers; one is an All-Australian and Club Champion and the other has played just 20 games in the past two seasons. But the debate about who is the better player must remain open, says The Phantom.

Brad and Matt Crouch. They’re the ultra-competitive brothers from country Victoria, who have shown they are both elite AFL midfielders at their best.

While Brad ($418,000 MID) was more-highly rated as a junior, younger brother Matt ($551,300 MID) has gone past him.

But can we still label him the better player?

On recent form, there is no real debate.

In the past two seasons, Matt, who was drafted at pick No. 23 at the 2013 National Draft, has played 43 out of a possible 47 matches, tallying 27 disposals or more in all-but two of them.

And in one he left the field early in the first half with a hamstring injury.

In 2017, the 23-year-old recorded more disposals than any other player in the competition, earning himself an All-Australian jacket for the first time, as well as his first Crows’ Club Champion award, in a year when Adelaide made the grand final.

Matt averaged 111 SuperCoach points per match to finish the season as the sixth-ranked player in the game.

A hamstring injury derailed the early-part of his 2018 campaign but he still managed to post 12 SuperCoach tons and the second triple-figure average of his five-year career.

Brad Crouch, pictured at Crows training, is on track for the JLT Series.

Matt Crouch hopes to have older brother Brad alongside him in 2019.

In the same time, older brother Brad, who landed at the Crows as part of the 2011 GWS mini-draft, has made just 20 appearances after battling groin, foot and hamstring injuries.

But the 25-year-old recorded 26 disposals or more in 14 of them, winning 10 contested possessions or more in 16 matches.

While his body has been a huge concern, Brad’s on-field performance has never been the issue.

In his 61 career games, including finals, he’s scored 80 SuperCoach points or more in 44 of them, passing the 100-point mark on 22 occasions.

And while he’s failed to find any real consistency in his body, playing more than 10 matches in a row just once in his five AFL-eligible years on Adelaide’s list, the numbers are better than his young brother’s.

In the first 61 matches of his 90-game career, Matt broke the 80-point barrier on 34 occasions and posted 16 SuperCoach tons — six less than Brad, who is available for more than $100k less in SuperCoach in 2019.

And between game nine and 61, Matt missed only three rounds of football.

Sure, that only highlights Brad’s injury history further but it also shows his scoring power, despite being unable to stay on the park on a consistent basis.

And this is why the debate, in The Phantom’s opinion, must remain open.

THE PHANTOM’S MUST-HAVE PLAYER ON EVERY LINE

While Matt controls matches in the midfield, Brad, who boasts a more all-round game - and speed on the outside - can win them.

In 2017, Matt — the competition’s best ball-winner in that season - tallied more disposals, contested possessions, uncontested possessions and marks than Brad but his older brother had him covered for inside 50s, clearances, tackles and goals per game.

In fact, in those first 61 games, Brad had far more impact forward of centre, booting 21.22 and directly assisting in 32 other Crow majors.

Matt contributed only 13 goals of his own and recorded 12 goal assists.

There’s little doubt, Matt is the far-more accomplished player to-date, already establishing himself as one of the best inside-midfielders in the competition.

And, by some margin, he’s the safer SuperCoach selection.

But that might change very quickly if — and, unfortunately, it’s still a big if — Brad, who averaged 32 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven tackles and 117 SuperCoach points in his last four senior games, can string a full season together.

Originally published as The Phantom on the Crouch brothers: Matt is more accomplished but is he really the better player?