Brad Crouch retires from AFL at 30

St Kilda star midfielder Brad Crouch has announced his retirement at the age of 30 due to a degenerative knee injury, bringing an end to a 161-game AFL career.

Crouch shared the news with his teammates on Tuesday, describing the decision as both emotional and a relief.

“The knee’s no good. I’d be out there if I could,” Crouch said.
“I’m very much at peace with it all. It was a massive journey, and I absolutely loved it.”

Crouch began his AFL journey with Adelaide, where he played 95 games and won the club’s best-and-fairest in 2019. In 2020, he moved to St Kilda as a restricted free agent, adding another 66 games to his career tally.

Under Ross Lyon’s coaching in 2023, Crouch delivered a standout season, averaging 27 disposals and 5.4 clearances per game while polling a career-best 18 Brownlow Medal votes.

Reflecting on his career, Crouch said:
“It’s been a really tough few months, and this is definitely not how I saw my footy career ending. That being said, I’ve been able to live out my dream of playing AFL at two incredible clubs, played in a grand final alongside my brother, and made many lifelong friends.”

Crouch’s resilience through injuries and commitment to his craft leaves a lasting legacy at both Adelaide and St Kilda.