A gun Saint could reportedly be forced into early retirement after an ongoing knee battle, which pre-emptively may open the door elsewhere for a fringe Bomber.
Plus, could a top Essendon draft pick be squeezed out of the door just two years since joining the club?
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Scott disappointed by poor execution | 09:12
TOUGH CALL COMES FOR GUN SAINT AS SHIEL SPECULATION GROWS
The future of St Kilda inside midfielder Brad Crouch is riddled with uncertainty, as the 30-year-old battles a brutal knee injury.
Having not played at the top level since Round 1 this year, the former Crow has since battled ongoing issues in his left knee amid a short stint in the VFL.
As reported by Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, concerns around his longevity beyond 2024 are real.
“Brad Crouch’s future is very uncertain; in fact, he could be forced into an early retirement this year,” Clark begun by saying.
“He’s been a worry at St Kilda for the past three years; he’s played 20 games in each of the last three seasons, but his knee has become a massive problem.
“This has flown under the radar it’s fair to say – he’s played one senior game for the whole season this year … he didn’t train today, he’s been unable to get out on the park.”
Crouch’s injury status at the club has been listed as ‘TBC’ for six weeks straight now, eluding to something perhaps running deeper than some innocent uncertainty on a small niggle.
Instead, Clark’s report insinuates it may be in the best interests of the 161-gamer to retire.
“It’s sad, I think there’ll be some discussions with the St Kilda medicos and their senior officials at the end of the year. But I think as part of this aggressive list turnover at St Kilda, Brad Crouch who’s been so solid and reliable … that knee is causing him real grief (on the) left side,” added Clark.
“So, if Brad Crouch goes out, is there a player they could look at to re-generate that midfield?” fellow Midweek Tackle panellist Sam Landsberger asked.
“We know St Kilda had a bit of a crack at Dylan Shiel last year, he got some injuries late so it did sort of fall over – they did meet with him. His past three games have been pretty encouraging,” Clark replied.
Shiel is contracted at the Bombers until the end of 2025, and looks to have had a mini-career resurrection of sorts since his inclusion back into the senior side against Collingwood in Round 17 – averaging 25 disposals a game.
And while it is extremely pre-emptive to suggest Shiel will be Crouch’s replacement, the on-baller could well be looked at regardless of Crouch’s future in the game.
COULD A TOP FIVE DRAFT PICK BE SQUEEZED OUT AT TULLAMARINE?
After less than a dozen games at the top level since his drafting two years ago, young midfielder Elijah Tsatas could be probed into looking elsewhere for opportunity.
Tsatas, who was taken with Essendon’s Pick 5 in the 2022 Draft, has played seven games so far this year, however, five of them have been as the sub.
Additionally, only three games this season has the 19-year-old played more than 40 per cent game time (and four more than 20 per cent) – meaning the writing could already be on the wall given the impact of the likes of Sam Durham and Jye Caldwell in the engine room lately.
“He’s played 11 games over the last two years … how is he going to come in? Is Essendon a great fit for him at the moment? I don’t think it is,” Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“Caldwell has gone through the roof, Sam Durham (has) become an A-grade midfielder himself, Hobbs still to come in, Parish, Merrett – I don’t think they need Tsatas anymore.”
“That’s a huge story for me – a number five draft pick, it was him or (Mattaes) Phillipou at the draft … to punt him after two, three years I think that would be a massive decision,” fellow Herald Sun journalist Sam Landsberger added.
With plenty of attributes that catch the eye of rival clubs, one team in particular took the fancy of Clark as a suitor.
“Keep an eye on Richmond here; if Richmond lose Daniel Rioli … I just wonder whether Richmond could be interested.”
Source Agencies
