3 minute read

High-profile St Kilda recruit Brad Crouch will slot straight into the Saints' midfield after the former Adelaide midfielder served his two-match AFL ban.

Former Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch will slot straight into St Kilda's AFL line-up after serving his two-match ban for an off-field indiscretion.

Crouch's inclusion will be a major boost for the Saints against winless Essendon on Saturday as they aim to respond from last week's surprise defeat.

The 27-year-old joined St Kilda as a restricted free agent during the off-season but his Saints debut had to be pushed back.

Crouch was given a two-game suspension by the AFL for conduct unbecoming after he and former Crows teammate Tyson Stengle were caught by police in possession of an illicit substance last September in the Adelaide CBD.

After completing his AFL-mandated drug and alcohol education course, Crouch will add to the 95 AFL games he played with Adelaide.

"We did a controlled session with him last week because he's done so much work and already played the two practice matches, so he didn't need to play anymore," St Kilda coach Brett Ratten.

"It will be exciting. We got him to our football club to influence around the stoppages and around the midfield so he'll do that with (Jack) Steele.

"As well as (Zak) Jones, (Jade) Gresham and (Seb) Ross, I think it will be a good start to his career and he'll remember this day for a long time.

"Against the Bombers, who have been a great club for so long, to start his career at the Saints against them, will be brilliant."

Ratten said he was hopeful of some looming respite to the Saints ruck stocks with Rowan Marshall (foot) a chance to play in round-four, while veteran Paddy Ryder will be back at the club "soon" from personal leave.