Retired St Kilda midfielder Brad Crouch has lifted the lid on his exit from the club following an attempt to save his career amid a horrid run with injuries.
Crouch was cut by the Saints at the cessation of last season despite being under contract, with the club revealing they would re-list the 31-year-old via the Rookie Draft in November.
The Saints placed Crouch back on their list for 2025, only for the former Adelaide onballer to announce his retirement days later.
After featuring in St Kilda's season opener that year, Crouch wasn't seen again last season due to a chronic knee injury that plagued his fourth season as a Saint.
In a bid to keep his playing career alive, the inside ball-winner consulted five surgeons, all of whom suggested the veteran should hang up the boots, with Crouch revealing his body was "on thin ice".
The ex-Saint told the Unpluggered Podcast that he would likely have been cut from the club had it not been for his contract status, with Crouch expressing his gratitude for the help St Kilda extended to him in a difficult time.
"I was going through every avenue I could to save (my career) in some way or make sure I was totally stuffed," he said.
"That really dragged out. I ended up going to five different surgeons about opinions, about if I should play on or not, or even try. All five of them said to just give it up, virtually retire.
"There was a lot of documentation and having to put all that through. I was contracted for the next season, that was the hardest thing. If I wasn't contracted they wouldn't have offered me a contract.
"I was in terms of my body, I couldn't run. In the back of my mind, I knew I was pushing it uphill big time.
"The club was really good in providing me with anyone who could give me a chance, but I couldn't find anyone."
Crouch's career ended after 161 games, 66 of which came in the red, white and black. He would claim best and fairest honours with Adelaide during his time with the club from 2013-2020, before seeking a move to Moorabbin via free agency.
The Beaufort product has since stepped into coaching, taking on a non-playing assistant role with Victorian local club Noble Park for the 2025 season.
Watch the Unpluggered Podcast with Brad Crouch on YouTube (player below) or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
