Matt Crouch says he’s still trying to cement his spot in the Crows team after receiving the Round Five NAB Rising Star nomination.

Crouch, who turned 19 on Monday, was nominated in only his third AFL game against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The young ball magnet amassed a career-high 28 possessions and 10 marks before in three quarters being substituted out of the game. He averaged a disposal every 2.5 minutes of game time in Adelaide’s 65-point win over GWS.

“It was good to get the win on the board, but to get recognition as the Rising Star is a good feeling as well,” Crouch said on Tuesday.

“I played alright on the weekend and have been pretty consistent the way I’ve gone the last couple of weeks and that might’ve helped me (to earn the nomination).

“To get a game was the main goal I set myself this year. To get in and cement my spot in the side, which I still haven’t done yet I don’t think.

“Hopefully, I can keep playing my role and be consistent throughout the year.”

Crouch’s possession tally could’ve been even higher if he’d been afforded four quarters on the ground, but the left footer said the decision to sub him out was probably the right one.

“I wasn’t dirty (at being subbed). It was a good opportunity for Lynchy (Tom Lynch) to get in the game. He was coming back from injury and needed to get out there and get some match fitness,” Crouch said.

“I was just cramping in the hammy, so I probably wouldn’t have been able to run out the game anyway.”

Already a prolific ball winner, Crouch says endurance remains his biggest area for improvement.

“My aerobic running has improved a bit, but it still needs to go up another level. Hopefully, I can keep working on that and get bigger and stronger as well,” he said.

“Since coming over in the pre-season, I’ve learned a lot. I think I’ve developed as a player a bit. You can’t get too comfortable in the AFL. There are going to be some bigger challenges ahead.”

Crouch impressed throughout Adelaide’s pre-season campaign, but was squeezed out of the Round One team, ironically, for older brother, Brad.

The teenager from Ballarat said the experience had been beneficial in hindsight.

“We’ve got a very good midfield. There are good players who are playing in the SANFL at the moment, so there’s always going to be pressure for spots,” he said.

“Going back to the SANFL for the first couple of games … and playing well there helped me a lot. I’m happy with where I am now.”

Crouch follows in the footsteps of Brad in receiving a Rising Star nomination.

Brad was nominated in his fifth game in Round 14 last season and went on to finish runner-up in the overall award.  Matt said he wouldn’t make a big deal of beating his big brother to a nomination.

“That doesn’t really worry me at all,” he said with a laugh.

“Brad said ‘Congrats’ like all of the boys have. I think sometimes it (our rivalry) gets over-hyped a bit.

“We’re pretty good mates as well.”