Jared Crouch
Encyclopedia
Jared Crouch is a South Australian former Australian football
player with the Sydney Swans
of the AFL
, who is colloquially known as “Crouchie” to Swans fans and media.
Having played for Norwood
in the SANFL
, he was selected by Sydney in the first round of the 1995 National Draft. He did not make his senior debut until 1998, when he was called up to play against Collingwood
in Round 7, having been originally selected as an emergency for that match. He played in every game for the rest of the season, earning a Rising Star Award nomination, and did not miss a game in the subsequent seven years.
Crouch's first serious injury occurred in the first match of the 2004 International Rules series (played after the AFL season had ended), when he broke a shoulder and it looked like his unbroken run in the AFL would come to an end. However, Crouch was fit to play in the first game of the 2005 AFL season, and played every game in Sydney's premiership-winning season. His run finally ended when he was unavailable for Round 13 of the 2006 season. His 194 consecutive games from debut is an AFL record, and also places him fourth on the AFL list for consecutive games generally. He was overtaken by team-mate Brett Kirk
in 2010.
Crouch usually played in the back pocket
, where he kept many well-known opponents quiet. His consistency and professionalism saw him in the top 10 of the Swans' best and fairest count six years in a row, but his only recognition from outside the club was selection in the International Rules team that played Ireland
in 2003 and 2004.
Crouch announced his retirement from football from the end of the 2009 season onwards.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player with the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
of the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, who is colloquially known as “Crouchie” to Swans fans and media.
Having played for Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
, he was selected by Sydney in the first round of the 1995 National Draft. He did not make his senior debut until 1998, when he was called up to play against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in Round 7, having been originally selected as an emergency for that match. He played in every game for the rest of the season, earning a Rising Star Award nomination, and did not miss a game in the subsequent seven years.
Crouch's first serious injury occurred in the first match of the 2004 International Rules series (played after the AFL season had ended), when he broke a shoulder and it looked like his unbroken run in the AFL would come to an end. However, Crouch was fit to play in the first game of the 2005 AFL season, and played every game in Sydney's premiership-winning season. His run finally ended when he was unavailable for Round 13 of the 2006 season. His 194 consecutive games from debut is an AFL record, and also places him fourth on the AFL list for consecutive games generally. He was overtaken by team-mate Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans, and is known colloquially as "Kirky", "Captain Kirk", during the 2005 AFL Finals Series, "Captain Blood" and by teammates as "Hippy". Kirk is a hard working and onfield leader who has played in a premiership with the...
in 2010.
Crouch usually played in the back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
, where he kept many well-known opponents quiet. His consistency and professionalism saw him in the top 10 of the Swans' best and fairest count six years in a row, but his only recognition from outside the club was selection in the International Rules team that played Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 2003 and 2004.
Crouch announced his retirement from football from the end of the 2009 season onwards.