Trent Croad
Encyclopedia
Trent Eric Croad is a former professional Australian rules football
er who played in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
During his 222 game AFL career, he achieved some of the Australian Football League's highest honours including an AFL premiership medallion, All-Australian selection, representing Australia and Victoria
on multiple occasions.
rugby union
player between 1946-1949 including the tour of South Africa
, Trent migrated with his family to Australia and grew up in Narre Warren in Victoria. He began playing at a young age with the Narre Warren Junior Football Club and attended De La Salle College, Malvern.
He was scouted by recruiters and as an 18-year-old and nominated for the 1997 AFL Draft
. Croad was invited to the AFL Draft camp where he set the draft camp record for a standing vertical jump at 83 cm, which remains a decade later.
picked up Croad with the third overall selection in the draft. He started out as a defender, playing at either centre half-back
or fullback
. But he showed his versatility as his career went on, being able to play in any number of key position
s.
at the end of 2001. The picks given up by Fremantle were used by Hawthorn to select current Hawthorn stars Luke Hodge
and Sam Mitchell
, whilst Luke McPharlin
joined Croad in moving west. While Croad was reasonable but not spectacular at the Dockers, in 2002, he was Fremantle's leading goalkicker with 42 goals. The following season Croad lost confidence and kicked 18 goals. He cited homesickness and asked to be traded back to Victoria at the end of 2003.
, this time only in return for pick 10, which was used by Fremantle to select Ryley Dunn
. Croad was told that he would be the centre half back, with a regular position his form improved once he went back to the Hawks, winning All-Australian selection in 2005.
Croad relished the responsibility of being the senior man down back being strong, athletic type who took the oppositions best forward each week. During the second quarter of the 2008 Grand Final
Croad broke his foot and played no further part in the game. Hawthorn went on to win the match and Croad earned his first Premiership medallion in over 200 games of AFL football.
in State of Origin
.
In 2005, he was an All-Australian selection.
In 2008, he again represented Victoria, playing on Hawthorn teammate Lance Franklin
in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
.
On 14 October 2006, Croad married Tanya Stewart. Together they run a male hair-care company called Gear and they have two daughters, Kiera (born July 2007) and Sierra (born October 2009).
He met with his heroes, the All Blacks in June 2007.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
During his 222 game AFL career, he achieved some of the Australian Football League's highest honours including an AFL premiership medallion, All-Australian selection, representing Australia and Victoria
Victoria Australian rules football team
The Victorian Australian rules football team, also known as the Big V is the representative side of Victoria, Australia in the sport of Australian rules football....
on multiple occasions.
Early life
Born in New Zealand, the grandson of Eric Boggs, an All BlacksAll Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player between 1946-1949 including the tour of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Trent migrated with his family to Australia and grew up in Narre Warren in Victoria. He began playing at a young age with the Narre Warren Junior Football Club and attended De La Salle College, Malvern.
He was scouted by recruiters and as an 18-year-old and nominated for the 1997 AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
. Croad was invited to the AFL Draft camp where he set the draft camp record for a standing vertical jump at 83 cm, which remains a decade later.
Draft to Hawthorn
HawthornHawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
picked up Croad with the third overall selection in the draft. He started out as a defender, playing at either centre half-back
Centre half-back
In Australian rules football, the centre half-back refers to a position in the half-back line of a football field.Centre half back is considered a key position in defence. Examples of centre half-backs include Glen Jakovich, Darren Mead, Tom Harley and Chris Tarrant....
or fullback
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
. But he showed his versatility as his career went on, being able to play in any number of key position
Key position
In the sport of Australian rules football, a "key position" refers to positions on the ground that are considered vital to the structure of a team.Key position players make up what is known as the "spine" of a team...
s.
Fremantle years
Croad was traded from Hawthorn to the Fremantle DockersFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
at the end of 2001. The picks given up by Fremantle were used by Hawthorn to select current Hawthorn stars Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...
and Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (footballer)
Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Debut season :...
, whilst Luke McPharlin
Luke McPharlin
Luke McPharlin is an Australian rules football player for the Fremantle Football Club. McPharlin was educated at Christ Church Grammar School, graduating in 1999. McPharlin is both a key back and a key forward....
joined Croad in moving west. While Croad was reasonable but not spectacular at the Dockers, in 2002, he was Fremantle's leading goalkicker with 42 goals. The following season Croad lost confidence and kicked 18 goals. He cited homesickness and asked to be traded back to Victoria at the end of 2003.
Return to Hawthorn
He was traded back to the HawksHawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
, this time only in return for pick 10, which was used by Fremantle to select Ryley Dunn
Ryley Dunn
Ryley Dunn is a former midfielder or defender for the Fremantle Football Club. He was drafted to Fremantle in the 2003 AFL Draft at selection 10, which was traded by Hawthorn Football Club in return for Trent Croad...
. Croad was told that he would be the centre half back, with a regular position his form improved once he went back to the Hawks, winning All-Australian selection in 2005.
Croad relished the responsibility of being the senior man down back being strong, athletic type who took the oppositions best forward each week. During the second quarter of the 2008 Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
Croad broke his foot and played no further part in the game. Hawthorn went on to win the match and Croad earned his first Premiership medallion in over 200 games of AFL football.
Retirement
Croad missed the entire 2009 season because of his Grand Final injury and on 6 January 2010 he announced his retirement.Representative honours
In 1999, he represented VictoriaVictoria Australian rules football team
The Victorian Australian rules football team, also known as the Big V is the representative side of Victoria, Australia in the sport of Australian rules football....
in State of Origin
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
.
In 2005, he was an All-Australian selection.
In 2008, he again represented Victoria, playing on Hawthorn teammate Lance Franklin
Lance Franklin
Lance "Buddy" Franklin, Jr is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League . Nicknamed 'Buddy', Franklin primarily plays as a centre half-forward, but also spends some time in the midfield, where he plays along the wing...
in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
The AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match was a one-off all-star game between two representative sides organised by the Australian Football League to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football....
.
Off the field
Croad has a tattoo of the silver fern, the national emblem of New Zealand on the inside of his right arm.On 14 October 2006, Croad married Tanya Stewart. Together they run a male hair-care company called Gear and they have two daughters, Kiera (born July 2007) and Sierra (born October 2009).
He met with his heroes, the All Blacks in June 2007.