Adelaide ball magnet Matt Crouch has turned his back on free agency and recommitted to the Crows signing a two-year deal.
Crouch had been widely tipped to depart Adelaide as the club continues to rebuild its list with a heavy focus on youth. However, Crouch will now remain a crow until at least the end of 2023.
The left-footer didn't play a game in 2021 due to a groin injury and it looked for all money his papers were stamped given coach Matthew Nicks' ruthless attitude around list management.
Crouch said it was just a matter of time before he and the Crows reached an agreement.
“It was always my preference to re-sign with Adelaide and it was just a matter of taking the time to work through where both I and the club were at,” Crouch said.
“I’m excited by our young list and confident in the direction we are heading.
“Although it has been a frustrating year for me personally with injury, I’m now looking forward to getting back on the training track with all my teammates in pre-season and returning to the field next year.
“We are building something special here and I am confident I have plenty of good footy ahead of me as has the team.”
Mitch Cleary of AFL.com.au is reporting that Crouch signed the extension on Friday. The report states that Crouch has signed on for less than his original asking price.
Crouch's management had been getting a feel for any interest in the 2017 Best and Fairest winner but they were unable to garner enough attention to convince Crouch to test the open market.
There had been some whispers that Crouch could follow the path his brother Brad took last season and make his way to Victoria.
Nicks said as recently as Friday that the club and Crouch still had a way to go before reaching an agreement.
“Insulted is a harsh word, but that’s what we’re working through with Matty,” the Adelaide coach told SEN SA Breakfast.
“I totally understand where Matty is coming from. We’ve had open dialogue around this for months now and there’s always going to be a balance or a negotiation between player and footy club on what works.
“We’re working through that. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s taking a little longer, I’m a little concerned, but I want Matt at the footy club, he wants to be at the footy club.
“Our challenge now is to make that work. It is around some security, and I understand that, for a lot of players that is the most important part – ‘I want security, I want time’.
“We’re working through that at the moment and I’m confident we’ll get that done.”