Ben Crocker

Ben Crocker (born 19 February 1997) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He also previously played for the Collingwood Football Club.

Ben Crocker
Crocker playing for Collingwood in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Ben Crocker
Date of birth (1997-02-19) 19 February 1997
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)/Carey Grammar
Draft 65th pick, 2015 National Draft
Debut Round 7, 2016, Collingwood
vs. Carlton, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club Adelaide
Number 20
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2016–2019 Collingwood 26 (21)
2020 Adelaide 07 0(4)
Total 33 (25)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

State football

Crocker played for the Kew Comets and the Canterbury Cobras in the Yarra Junior Football League in his youth.[1] Crocker played and captained the Oakleigh Chargers,[2] leading them to a premiership, kicking a goal against Eastern Ranges in the 2015 TAC Cup season Grand Final.[3] He represented Vic Metro at 2015 AFL Under 18 Championships, serving as vice-captain together with Sam Weideman and Nick O'Kearney under captain Theo Thompson.[4] He kicked a goal in the opening match against Vic Country, where he was named amongst the best players,[5] and kicked goals against South Australia[6] and in the second match against Vic Country.[7] In the final match of the Championships, Crocker kicked three goals against South Australia, including the winning goal.[8]

AFL career

Collingwood

Crocker was drafted by Collingwood with the 65th pick of the 2015 national draft.[9] After showing good form in the Victorian Football League (VFL), kicking seven goals in four matches and averaging 11 disposals per match, he made his debut for Collingwood's senior team on 7 May 2016 against their arch-rivals Carlton.[10] In October 2019, Crocker was delisted by Collingwood,[11] but was allowed to continue training at the Holden Centre.[12]

Adelaide

Crocker was given a second chance in November, when he was re-drafted by Adelaide in the 2020 rookie draft.[13] Tyson Goldsack, Crocker's room-mate, former team-mate, and current development coach at Port Adelaide, claimed that he has what it takes to make it in the AFL.[14] Crocker trained and worked hard after arriving in Adelaide, making captain Rory Sloane say he deserves a spot in the best 22.[15] He made his debut for Adelaide in the second round of the 2020 season, against Port Adelaide, kicking a goal.[16][17]

Crocker was delisted at the end of 2020. He signed for the Carlton reserves in 2021.[18]

Personal life

Crocker grew up as a Collingwood supporter, living next door to former captain Scott Burns.[19] He was educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School.[20] His brother, Sam, was drafted by St Kilda in the 2010 draft, but he was delisted after two years without making a senior appearance.[21] In 2014, Crocker's father, Paul, was diagnosed with early onset dementia, and he became an ambassador for Dementia Australia, helping raise funds.[22]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of 2020 season[23]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2016 Collingwood 391010650419130131.00.65.04.19.13.01.3
2017 Collingwood 393321811291481.00.76.03.79.74.72.7
2018 Collingwood 391058743110542160.50.87.43.110.54.21.6
2019 Collingwood 3933217623991.00.75.72.07.73.03.0
2020 Adelaide 2074545105510170.60.76.41.47.83.22.4
Career 33 25 23 204 99 303 117 63 0.8 0.7 6.2 3.0 9.2 3.0 1.9

References
  1. "YJFL Current AFL Players". Yarra Junior Football League. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. Gliddon, Greg (4 February 2015). "Kew's Ben Crocker eyes off AFL career". Herald Sun.
  3. Twomey, Callum (27 September 2015). "Answerth stars as Oakleigh wins TAC Cup GF". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  4. "Thompson to captain Vic Metro". TAC Cup. 30 May 2015.
  5. Twomey, Callum (24 May 2015). "U18s: Vic Country stuns with after-the-siren win over Vic Metro". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  6. Schmook, Nathan (30 May 2015). "South Australia downs Vic Metro in U18s led by flying Francis". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  7. Twomey, Callum (7 June 2015). "U18s: Returning prospect Darcy Parish stars as Vic Country downs Metro". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  8. Whiting, Michael (1 July 2015). "U18s: Ben Crocker's last-gasp goal gives Vic Metro win over SA". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  9. "Welcome to Collingwood: Ben Crocker". Collingwood. BigPond. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018.
  10. Gastin, Sam (5 May 2016). "Round 7 team: A fourth debutant is named". Collingwood. BigPond.
  11. Ramsey, Michael (28 October 2019). "Glimmer of hope for axed Pies' AFL veteran". The Newcastle Herald.
  12. Turner, Kieron (6 December 2019). "'Not even Swanny got this type of send-off'". Adelaide. Telstra Media.
  13. "AFL Draft news, AFL rookie draft, Ben Crocker, Ben Keays, AFL draft 2019, Adelaide news, Collingwood". Fox Sports. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  14. Mills, Sam (4 December 2019). "Collingwood premiership hero believes Ben Crocker has what it takes". 1116 SEN.
  15. Gabelich, Josh (10 March 2020). "Adelaide recruit Ben Crocker looks set for Round 1 debut five months after being delisted by Collingwood". Fox Sports.
  16. Turner, Kieron (11 June 2020). "Team Selection: Round Two". Adelaide. Telstra Media.
  17. McGowan, Marc (13 June 2020). "Renewable Power source: Young guns provide spark in big Showdown win". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  18. "Crocker becomes a 'Bagger". Carlton Football Club. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  19. "Ben Crocker". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  20. "From the Deputy Head of Middle School". Carey Baptist Grammar School. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  21. Twomey, Callum (5 August 2015). "Crockers riding the draft's rollercoaster". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  22. McNicol, Adam (18 April 2018). "Crocker's courage". Collingwood. Telstra Media.
  23. "Ben Crocker". AFL Tables. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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