After a stellar 189 game career for the Carlton Football Club, former number 1 pick Matthew Kreuzer will be returning to the Blues as ruck coach for the club's AFL mens side in 2021.
Kreuzer, 31, was injured for most of the 2020 season, but played a behind-the-scenes coaching role and was also a part in mentoring Carlton's young group.
Kreuzer will work closely with developing talls Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet over the course of 2021, who shared the number ruck duties in 2020 and showed plenty of promise.
Kreuzer said the opportunity to be back at the club and helping the next group of players, was a great opportunity.
“I loved my 13 years playing in the Navy Blue guernsey and to now have the chance to help the next generation come through is a great opportunity,” Kreuzer told Carlton Media.
“I want this club to have the ultimate success and to still be able to play a role in helping us achieve that is an opportunity I am looking forward to and can’t wait to get to work when pre-season begins.”
Carlton Head of Football Brad Lloyd said that with Kreuzer's experience and knowledge of the Carlton Football Club fabric, it's a perfect fit.
“There are few people over the last decade who embody what it means to be a Carlton player and person more than Matthew,” Lloyd said.
“To have someone of his experience and knowledge, not just of the game but of our club, mentoring the next generation of Carlton ruckmen coming through, it is a perfect fit.
“A real focus for us is developing the players already on our list to ensure they get the most out of their ability and with the development program we now have in place, we feel we are well placed as a football club to achieve that.”