A consistent season in the WAFL eventuated in a late reprieve for Mitch Crowden. Averaging 24 touches and eight tackles per outing in the twos as a midfielder, he struggled as a small forward at AFL level. His most promising performance came in a two-goal display against the Cats in round 20. Seeking greater opportunities in the midfield, Crowden will battle alongside youngsters for the position. The prospect of playing in his desired central position under the new coach is the only scenario in which a fantasy asset emerges, so keep him on the watchlist.
Crowden in a queue
A consistent season in the WAFL eventuated in a late reprieve for Mitch Crowden. Averaging 24 touches and eight tackles per outing in the twos as a midfielder, he struggled as a small forward at AFL level. His most promising performance came in a two-goal display against the Cats in round 20. Seeking greater opportunities in the midfield, Crowden will battle alongside youngsters for the position. The prospect of playing in his desired central position under the new coach is the only scenario in which a fantasy asset emerges, so keep him on the watchlist.
Crowd ahead of Crowden?
Ross Lyon gave a lot of opportunity to the youngsters in 2018 and 18-year-old Mitch Crowden was one of them. The hard-hitting midfielder debuted in round 2, lining up mostly on a half forward flank. While his possession numbers were low, his pressure acts were impressive, averaging 19.8 per game – ranked fourth at Fremantle. Crowden will benefit from another preseason under his belt and will naturally progress, but the injection of Travis Colyer spells trouble for his job security. Consistent WAFL form and a few injuries to teammates may be needed to pave his path. He won’t be a regular feature and he hasn’t shown any high scoring potential just yet, so forget about Crowden for now.
Freo's a Crowden
Mitch Crowden played as a half forward for Sturt last season but it was the Championships where he excelled in midfield, going at rates of 23 disposals with five tackles and three clearances. His bulk led to comparisons with Ollie Wines, with Dayne Zorko another mentioned due to the similarity in height and the acceleration away from packs. Crowden has a mix of short stature and heavy muscle not seen in the big league since Tony Liberatore. He will test the theory that smaller mids can survive in the AFL post the rise of Caleb Daniel, though it would not surprise to see him start AFL life as a forward pocket. Role is the issue for him: if he plays the JLT as a mid, someone in your league might take a flier.
