Pre-season premiers Brisbane have started the season with two straight defeats after going down at home to Adelaide by 19-points.
Brad Crouch during his first game for the Crows in Brisbane. Picture: Searle Jono Source: The Courier-Mail
BRAD Crouch didn't disappoint in his long-awaited debut for the Crows, making the step up to AFL level with the ease most expected.
Crouch rotated through half-forward and the midfield against Brisbane and immediately made an impact, tallying seven disposals in the first term on his way to 18 for the match.
Just as he did while progressing from club football to the TAC Cup to state footy and then the SANFL, Crouch looked like he belonged.
"(He was) very good - he started well which was important," Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said.
"He's just made of the right stuff.
"He's a natural footballer - he's got that football chip that people talk about.
"He just knows how to play."
Crouch had been forced to wait 543 days for his debut after being recruited by the Crows as a 17-year-old via a trade with Greater Western Sydney.
He then faced a frustrating fortnight after being left out of Adelaide's side for round one, but earnt his spot with a standout performance for West Adelaide in the SANFL.
"He's been waiting a long time," Sanderson said.
"He's been with us for over 12 months and we made him wait an extra week which might have been a mistake in hindsight.
"But gee, he played well tonight.
"He added to our midfield depth, which was good."
Crouch looms as a long-term replacement for best-and-fairest Scott Thompson. If Adelaide can keep an on-ball unit of Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Sam Jacobs and the youngster from Ballarat together for the next five years they should remain a consistent finals threat.
Dangerfield was impressed by the 19-year-old's composure on the big stage.
"He was brilliant," Dangerfield said.
"To come in and play your first game away when the heat is on, against a side that, while they didn't have a great game last week, had a terrific preseason ... He was outstanding."
There will come a time when Crouch has to shake off some of his unselfishness and realise he is the best option to make the incisive possession, but for now his best option is to keep dishing out handballs.
"He's a first-give player," Dangerfield said.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Crouch hits the mark for Crows
Dengan url
http://sudahterlupakan.blogspot.com/2013/04/crouch-hits-mark-for-crows.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Crouch hits the mark for Crows
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Crouch hits the mark for Crows
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar