Crouch set to retire this week

[Sanctorum]

In today's Australian John Ralph writes that "Rookie-listed Saint to call it quits":

"Injury-hit St Kilda midfielder Brad Crouch is expected to announce his retirement this week– just a few days after being rookie-listed by the Saints.

Crouch and St Kilda have been in drawn-out discussions about a payout figure for his contract after he played a single game in March to trigger a 2025 contract this season.

That single game – in the fourth and final season of his contract – was the 66th at St Kilda, but it was also sufficient to enact a games-based clause for a fifth season on about $550,000.

Clubs and their management can negotiate a retirement figure if a player is happy not to play the final season of their contract.

But those deals are always open to negotiation and can depend upon a player’s willingness to play on and fulfil their contract if the payout figure is not deemed suitable.

Crouch was the club’s sole rookie pick last Friday in a decision that had Saints supporters scratching their heads.

The 30-year-old is already working in commercial real estate at Essendon Fields.

On its website his employer lists him as a sales executive.

Crouch has also been appointed non-playing assistant coach of suburban powerhouse Noble Park next season.

He is expected to call a close to his 161-game AFL career this week, freeing up a position on St Kilda’s list.

St Kilda would be able to put up to $100,000 of his eventual payout figure outside the salary cap if they kept him on the rookie list.

But if he is put on an inactive list, the Saints can elevate a summer rookie until February 21 so will lose those potential savings by paying their new player.

The Herald Sun reported earlier this month the Saints had interest in SANFL Magarey medallist Harry Boyd, with the mature-aged ruckmen set to start training at Moorabbin this week.

St Kilda is yet to clarify Crouch’s position as the club works through a potential payout but coach Ross Lyon flagged his departure recently at a club function.

“We have made some hard decisions and there have been some tough things occur ... unfortunately (Crouch) had a degenerative knee and we would have loved to have him but we lost him and those losses have enabled the salary cap to be freed up,” Lyon said.

The decision to move him on to the rookie list meant St Kilda had another selection in the national draft as it secured exciting prospects Alix Tauru and Tobie Travaglia as top-10 selections then pick 32 James Barrat, pick 45 Hugh Boxshall, then pick 53 Alex Dodson and pick 60 Patrick Said.

Dodson was seen as the draft’s most accomplished ruckman but drifted back in the order at a club that needs ruck support for Rowan Marshall.

St Kilda announced a few weeks ago that it had delisted Crouch but was committed to taking him in the rookie draft.

Crouch signed a four-year deal with St Kilda as a restricted free agent when he joined it from Adelaide in 2021.

He played 65 games in his first three years at Moorabbin but only one this year."

So there we have it: confirmation that provided he trains well, Norwood's Harry Boyd is set to be picked up in the forthcoming Supplemental Selection Period, and that for me is very good news!

[Otiman]

Curious as to why he played that game. Was he foxing for the contract?

[Scollop]

Curious as to why he played that game. Was he foxing for the contract?

I'm just as curious about that one solitary game in 2024 but what irritates me, is why didn't the list management team and the football directors (and number crunches) discuss the possibility of restricting Crouch's total games played in 2023.

Brad struggled for form in round 6 of 2023 and didn't impact games around that time and in a couple of other games in the middle of the year.

Wasn't Crouch wearing that knee bandage in 2023?

I'm curious how the St Kilda coaches and medical staff played him each and every week in 2023 and weren't aware of both his significant knee issue...or his contract...which NOW sees the club paying him for 2 EXTRA years (2024 and 2025) when he essentially gives zero productivity for those years

[Sanctorum]

Curious as to why he played that game. Was he foxing for the contract?

I'm just as curious about that one solitary game in 2024 but what irritates me, is why didn't the list management team and the football directors (and number crunches) discuss the possibility of restricting Crouch's total games played in 2023.

Brad struggled for form in round 6 of 2023 and didn't impact games around that time and in a couple of other games in the middle of the year.

Wasn't Crouch wearing that knee bandage in 2023?

I'm curious how the St Kilda coaches and medical staff played him each and every week in 2023 and weren't aware of both his significant knee issue...or his contract...which NOW sees the club paying him for 2 EXTRA years (2024 and 2025) when he essentially gives zero productivity for those years

Player managers have a lot to answer for, and there's litle doubt that Crouch's manager would have advised Brad to play at least one more game in 2024. Bear in mind too that his manager stands to get a slice of the final payout that Crouch receives from St Kilda.

But we need to remember that for most players football is more or less a business venture, with a limited time to maximise their earnings to set themselves up for life post footy.

Not every player is 100% loyal to the team, as we saw when Josh Battle played ducks and drakes with his team mates and coaches before slinking out the door and into Jarryd Roughead's embrace at Waverley Park.

[shrodes]

Officially official
https://www.saints.com.au/news/1698318/ ... -the-boots

[Yorkeys]

Curious as to why he played that game. Was he foxing for the contract?

I'm just as curious about that one solitary game in 2024 but what irritates me, is why didn't the list management team and the football directors (and number crunches) discuss the possibility of restricting Crouch's total games played in 2023.

Brad struggled for form in round 6 of 2023 and didn't impact games around that time and in a couple of other games in the middle of the year.

Wasn't Crouch wearing that knee bandage in 2023?

I'm curious how the St Kilda coaches and medical staff played him each and every week in 2023 and weren't aware of both his significant knee issue...or his contract...which NOW sees the club paying him for 2 EXTRA years (2024 and 2025) when he essentially gives zero productivity for those years

Mean spirited and short-sighted.
See Club's statement.
St Kilda treats its agency recruits with respect. Sound sensible approach. Noted by future free/restricted agents.

[Otiman]

In 2023 Crouch polled 18 brownlow votes, any criticism of that year is entirely unfair.

[Scollop]

Curious as to why he played that game. Was he foxing for the contract?

I'm just as curious about that one solitary game in 2024 but what irritates me, is why didn't the list management team and the football directors (and number crunches) discuss the possibility of restricting Crouch's total games played in 2023.

Brad struggled for form in round 6 of 2023 and didn't impact games around that time and in a couple of other games in the middle of the year.

Wasn't Crouch wearing that knee bandage in 2023?

I'm curious how the St Kilda coaches and medical staff played him each and every week in 2023 and weren't aware of both his significant knee issue...or his contract...which NOW sees the club paying him for 2 EXTRA years (2024 and 2025) when he essentially gives zero productivity for those years

Player managers have a lot to answer for, and there's litle doubt that Crouch's manager would have advised Brad to play at least one more game in 2024. Bear in mind too that his manager stands to get a slice of the final payout that Crouch receives from St Kilda.

But we need to remember that for most players football is more or less a business venture, with a limited time to maximise their earnings to set themselves up for life post footy.

Not every player is 100% loyal to the team, as we saw when Josh Battle played ducks and drakes with his team mates and coaches before slinking out the door and into Jarryd Roughead's embrace at Waverley Park.

Josh didn't penalise the team while he was a St Kilda listed player. Josh earnt his keep. Can't say the same about Crouch.

Josh Battle may have rubbed some noses up the wrong way, but he wasn't a liability in his last two years.

And ....we were handsomely compensated with him 'slinking out the door'.

I bear no personal grudge with Battle...but I do hope Hawthorn are crap for the foreseeable future

[Otiman]

A great insight into a great player.

[B.M]

Was Crouch a liability for the last two years?

I thought his first 3 years at the club were very good

Then his knee was cooked!

[Otiman]

I think he delivered on expectations. If we were under more cap pressure then it might have been different.

[King Max]

Was Crouch a liability for the last two years?

I thought his first 3 years at the club were very good

Then his knee was cooked!

2023
6th in the TBA
18 Brownlow votes.

Where do we find more liabilities like that?

[repta]

Bloody disgrace that the selectors.were unaware.that Crouch only needed to limp out to make an additional $550k.

Seriously ... 1 game for essentially $1m.
We had to pay for last year but that is ridiculous we have to pay for next year. It was a known issue.

[Scollop]

Bloody disgrace that the selectors.were unaware.that Crouch only needed to limp out to make an additional $550k.

Seriously ... 1 game for essentially $1m.
We had to pay for last year but that is ridiculous we have to pay for next year. It was a known issue.

Shhhh.... You'll hurt their feelings...and heaven forbid you criticise Ross Lyon and the football department

[WellardSaint]

I thought the club learnt the hard way with Hannebery, not to spend $$ on a guy who cannot play due to injury.
Seems not to have learnt

[Yorkeys]

I thought the club learnt the hard way with Hannebery, not to spend $$ on a guy who cannot play due to injury.
Seems not to have learnt

False equivalent.

[chook23]

I thought the club learnt the hard way with Hannebery, not to spend $$ on a guy who cannot play due to injury.
Seems not to have learnt

Hannebery had issues before contract signed

Crouch injury after contract signed

[SinCitySainter]

Now, I am more than happy to criticize Ross and his cohorts and would be happy if he was shown the door tomorrow.
However, all this what were the club thinking giving him that extra game is absolute rubbish.
They were thinking that one of our best two midfielders was fit and available to play so they naturally selected him.
He had played with the same condition in the year before and came in the top twenty in the Brownlow and was our second-best polling player.
Any discussion that his performance wasn't good in 2023 is plainly wrong.