“Very disingenuous”: SEN SA host questions Nicks’ comments on Crouch’s return to form

SEN SA’s Kym Dillon is sceptical of Matthew Nicks’ reasoning behind Adelaide midfielder Matthew Crouch’s return to form in the first two rounds of the season.

The 2017 Malcolm Blight medallist has hit the ground running in his side’s superb start to 2025 with 63 disposals combined against St Kilda and Essendon.

It’s been a brilliant return to form for the 29-year-old after playing just 33 games over the last four years which saw him spend plenty of time in the SANFL where he featured 20 times over that period.

While he’s often featured in the reserves, Nicks said that the former All-Australian’s issues have mainly been down to him struggling to get his body right across the last four seasons.

“Matty wasn’t on the outer at all,” Nicks told reporters at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday morning.

“Matty was dealing with some challenges around his body with his hips and the way he was able to move and the way he could penetrate a game.

“We’ve been able to put some players around him that complement him, but he’s also done a hell of a lot of work on his body.”

The words left Kym Dillon perplexed with the broadcaster querying why the superstar had a stretch of games in the SANFL.

“I find that really disingenuous, his papers were signed,” Dillon told SEN SA’s The Run Home on Thursday.

“Yes, he had a period where he was injured but he had a long, long period where he was very, very fit, and he was not selected.

“The lad’s game style hadn’t changed, he was fit, his papers were signed because he lacked penetration in his kick, and he didn’t have enough leg speed.

“He’s no quicker and his kicks don’t go any further.

“The truth what he said there is, now they have players that can take advantage of what he does around him.”

The Crows and Crouch will be looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2017 when they host North Melbourne this afternoon.