Adelaide Crows Assistant Coach Nathan Van Berlo has backed out-of-favour midfielder Matt Crouch, stating he is a "required player".
Crouch has struggled to break into Matthew Nicks' midfield in 2022, managing just 11 AFL games and spending half the season in the Crows' SANFL side.
The midfielder has played eight SANFL games, averaging 37 disposals, eight clerances and four tackles.
Whilst those stats are impressive, Crouch has struggled to find a spot in a young Crows midfield that isn't quite star-studded.
When asked about the future of Crouch at the Crows on SEN SA Breakfast, Van Berlo stated he could definitely see the contracted onballer as part of their future.
“It will be a conversation around his year, which obviously has been a frustrating one for him personally," Van Berlo said.
"It will be a similar conversation to what we have had in terms of the areas of his game that we’d like him to keep working on and we’ve seen growth in at SANFL level.
“I know 'Nicksy' has been really public in the fact that he is a required player and we see Matty being a part of our future. From my point of view, I don’t think that’s changed at all.
“I see aspects of Matt’s game, when it’s at the level and what he’s working on, that is really going to help us. He’s a great inside player and if he can add elements to his outside game and be consistent in that area, then it makes us a better midfield.
“We’ll have those conversations and see where Matty ends up and what he wants to do as well.”
Matt Crouch is contracted for another year at the Crows, but it is uncertain as to whether he will be offerred a contract beyond the 2023 season.
