Former AFL forward Josh Jenkins has thrown up Sydney as a potential suitor for Matt Crouch.
Crouch’s name has rarely come up in trade talk over recent weeks despite creating headlines throughout the season for surprise omissions from Adelaide’s team and reports he would not be re-contracted beyond 2023.
It led many to believe he would be on the move, but Crouch is yet to be strongly linked to any potential suitor. If Crouch is to move clubs it will likely be a trade nearing Wednesday’s deadline, but Jenkins believes the Swans are a side that could use his services.
Adelaide has previously stated Crouch is a required player.
“The thing is… his name hasn’t been mentioned, it just hasn’t come up,” he told SEN’s The Run Home.
“It hasn’t been aligned with anyone or anything really. I see Sydney as a good fit for him.
“Josh Kennedy moves on, Luke Parker’s not getting any younger, Chad Warner is young and slight, James Rowbottom I like, he’s not a big body but he’s a strong body.
“I think they could do with Matt Crouch around the ball. He is a player who you need to focus on what he does do and not what he does not do.”
Nicks stated in season that Crouch needed to work on his outside game after playing primarily as an in-and-under midfield in his nine years at the Crows.
But, as Jenkins notes, there has never been an issue with Crouch’s ability to win the ball.
In his 11 AFL games in 2022 he never dipped below 24 touches. Crouch is more than two years younger than Sydney’s Parker and does bring a similar contested style.
But Jenkins implored any clubs willing to look at Crouch to focus on his attributes rather than flaws.
“He doesn’t kick the ball with penetration and he handballs more than he kicks and he’s not a fast runner, but he’s a good runner,” he continued.
“He’s a victim of how the team has performed a bit as well… he could absolutely help (Sydney). He’s still getting (plenty of possessions), I think he was dropped after getting 31 touches (in Round 14), getting the ball is still important.”
A factor against Crouch in this trade period is Tom Mitchell, who is also believed to be on the trade table. The Brownlow Medallist Hawk plays a similar game style to Crouch and would almost certainly be taken over the Crow if a suitor arises.
Mitchell is seen as most likely to go to Collingwood.
Bryce Gibbs has previously raised GWS, North Melbourne and the Magpies as suitors for his former teammate Crouch.