Trent Croad & me

by LES EVERETT

ONE of Trent Croad's first stops when he first came to Fremantle late in 2001 was my place.

croad

Trent Croad hits the phone after a powerful performance against Richmond in his fourth game for Fremantle. Photo by Les Everett

He wasn't looking to meet a local mover, groover and shaker or anything, it's just that I was writing stories about some of Fremantle's new recruits.

We had a short chat.

I found out he was born in New Zealand; that his grandfather Eric Boggs played for the All Blacks and, contrary to accepted belief, he'd played footy from a very young age. He was keen to put Hawthorn behind him. "It's all good. It's all new. I'm a Freo boy now," he said.

He was quietly spoken, very polite and impossibly good looking.

A couple of months later the season started and Croad looked good in the preseason games. He led straight and marked strongly. He also worked hard to create a routine for kicking for goal and developed a intriguing lop-sided approach.

He kicked three goals on debut for the Dockers in the round one derby of 2002 but really found his feet in round four when he kicked five goals in a 66 point demolition of Richmond.

After the game I arrived early at the room where the coach's media conference is normally held. Croad was there waiting with a mobile phone for a radio interview to take place.

He greeted me and remarked at how loud the crowd had been. Then he asked a curious question: "How did it look?"

The Dockers had just come off their two win 2001 season and had started 2002 with a derby loss, a last ditch win over St Kilda at home after looking as bad as they ever had early in the game and a five goal loss to Adelaide.

The performance against Richmond was powerful, skilful and exciting.

"It looked bloody wonderful," I said.

Croad put in another powerhouse display in round eight when he kicked seven of Fremantle's 14 goals in an after-the-siren win over Melbourne. In round 21 against Essendon at Docklands he gave Dustin Fletcher the run around and kicked four goals.

Croad was Fremantle's leading goal scorer for the season with a respectable 42 (14th in the competition) but there were some worrying signs. His marking technique seemed faulty - a habit of flying for screamers without putting his hands in the air was notable - and although he always tried hard there was a feeling he had trouble putting himself in the right spots.

Croad's first season with Fremantle had been filed away but not signed off. A good 2003 would have 2002 looking like the perfect platform.

However as the Dockers carved out their best ever season the handsome forward stood out for all the wrong reasons. At times it appeared Croad had forgotten how to play the game, his efforts were admirable but he found it almost impossible to have an impact.

Any other fringe player would simply have been dropped but such was the profile of Croad his form slump and place in the team became a drawn out saga.

A two week stint with Claremont in the WAFL seemed to do the trick for Croad and when he returned to the AFL against Sydney in round 17 he was outstanding. However that game did not herald a change of fortune and when Fremantle played its first final six weeks later Croad was not in the team.

The story came to an end during AFL trade week with the Hawks taking back the player they'd given away in exchange for draft pick 10.

Fremantle will continue to pay for some of Croad's contract but by offloading him have had a bit of a financial win. Croad may not have been one of the best Dockers but he was one of the best paid.

So was he worth it?

Those in the yes camp will argue that the recruitment of a high profile player after the 2001 disaster created momentum. And they'll point out that in exchange for draft picks one and 36 Fremantle received Croad and Luke McPharlin, and he can play.

And, despite his propensity for the social pages, Croad was a popular figure at Fremantle and always took time out to mix with supporters.

Others may look longingly at that number one draft choice from 2001 and mention the name Chris Judd. They may also note that the Hawks got Luke Hdoge with one and Sam Mitchell with 36.

Freo fans will use the Croad debate as part of their summer therapy.

And what of Trent Croad and me? We remained mates. I last saw him after the round 22 derby. "G'day Trent," I said.

"G'day... mate," he replied.

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