Happy homecoming boost for Swans

BALLARAT Football Netball Club has landed the biggest recruiting coup of the BFNL pre-season, with former junior and AFL club best and fairest winner Brad Crouch returning to the club.

The 32-year-old, who played in an under-16s flag with the Swans in his final year with the club in 2009, will return to where it all began.

He rejoins the Swans – finalists last season – after playing six games with Eastern league club Noble Park at the back end of last season.

He featured in the best players in four of those games.

Crouch called time on his 161-game AFL career (95 with Adelaide and 66 with St Kilda) at the end of 2024 due to chronic knee issues.

Swans coach Ash Baker said Crouch’s high-profile signing followed fast-moving discussions between player and club.

“He expressed a desire to come back and play for his home club for 2026 and we made it work from there,” he said.

“You certainly don’t say no to a player of that calibre.

“He’s really looking forward to it.

“We were pretty happy when we landed one.”

Crouch will remain based in Melbourne, where he will train with the Swans’ group of metropolitan players, and will train with the main group where possible.

While helping themselves to an elite talent, Baker said Crouch’s influence would arguably be best felt by the Swans’ core of fast-emerging young talent.

“A lot of guys in that age bracket we’ve got … 19 through to 23 or 24 … will just feed off his experience,” he said.

“They will learn a hell of a lot off him.

“We’ve got some boys in that age group that are ready to take off.”

Baker said Crouch would return to Alfredton in good physical shape.

“He played half a dozen games last year with Noble Park; the last half a dozen,” he said.

“But his body is going well at the moment, which has added to his keenness.”

Having announced a swag of other impressive new signings pre-Christmas, Baker said he was happy with how they had settled in.

They include ruckman Paddy Graham; former South Australian key forward Tyson Richard; Riley Fisher, a Swans junior back from a stint at Rokewood Corindhap; and Austin McKenzie from Natte Bealiba.

McKenzie is coming off a knee injury but will be ready to go in the second half of the season.

The Swans will be banking on the continued natural progression of its exciting young talent.

“Guys like Zack Maple, Wyatt Squires, Fraser Perkins … that group is really coming along,” Baker said.

“Young Buay (Ruach) who rucked for us last year is eligible for the 18.5s but has come along well.

“Sammy Battistella – he was eligible for the under-18.5s but pretty much played seniors all last year.

“Those boys are really moving well.”

Baker was quick to talk down any thoughts of heightened expectations following Crouch’s acquisition.

“The minute you start worrying about or focusing on the outcome, you lose sight of the big picture,” he said.

“We are more focused on the process of getting our game plan right – improving in the contested area and execution. We want to really improve those areas and where we end up is where we get to.”

The Swans have locked in two practice matches against Essendon District league club Greenvale on 14 March and Wimmera league club Horsham Saints, in Horsham, on 21 March.

They will open their 2026 season against North Ballarat at Mars Stadium on Saturday 11 April, in a repeat of last year’s round one fixture.

On that occasion, the Swans and Roosters played out a thrilling draw.