Matt Crouch from the Adelaide Football Club is the Round Five NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
The midfielder, who turned 19 yesterday, was one of the team’s best in the 65-point win over the GWS Giants on Sunday.
While it was the Crows’ first win at Adelaide Oval, it was Matt’s third AFL match after his debut in Round Three.
Matt’s match tally of 28 possessions could have been more had he not been subbed out of the game at three-quarter time.
Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said Matt has made an immediate impact at West Lakes.
“Matt has a real hunger to learn more about the game and his role in the team,” Sanderson said.
“He is also a fierce competitor, who makes great decisions under immense pressure.”
Matt was the Crows’ first selection, (selection 23 overall) in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.
He played two games for Vic Country in the 2013 NAB AFL Under-18 Championship before breaking his hand, but he finished the TAC Cup season in great form averaging
37 disposals (16 contested), seven clearances and five tackles for North Ballarat.
Matt was originally recruited from Beaufort is also a graduate of the AFL National Academies.
Matt’s brother and Crows teammate Brad was a rising star nominee in Round 14 last year.
Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.
NAB continues to grow the game by recognising the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. Each of the 23 clubs will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award valued at $2,500, comprising financial and practical resources. Since supporting the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, NAB has donated over $660,000 worth of resources to junior football clubs through this initiative.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- AFL National Academies
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
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