Three quarters of football was enough for promising Crow Matt Crouch to earn the NAB Rising Star nomination for Round Five.

Crouch collected 28 possessions and 10 marks before being subbed out at three-quarter time of Adelaide’s game against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday. It equated to a disposal every 2.5 minutes of game time for the young ball magnet - ranked No.1 of any player in the League to play more than a half in Round Five.

Playing only his third AFL game, the strong-bodied onballer also had nine score involvements in the Crows’ 65-point win. The Rising Star nomination is a belated birthday present for ‘Junior’ Crouch, who turned 19 on Easter Monday.

Recruited with pick No.23 in last year’s AFL National Draft, Crouch made his AFL debut against the Sydney Swans in Round Three. Already he has averaged 23 disposals an outing – continuing his form from under-18 level, where his strength around the contest and ability to accumulate possessions at stoppages were his defining traits.  

The Crows have been pleased with the improvements in his running capacity and his desire to make an impact immediately at the top level. A pre-season has refined Crouch's body shape and already he appears comfortable in the Crows' midfield brigade.

"Matt has a real hunger to learn more about the game and his role in the team," coach Brenton Sanderson said.

"He is also a fierce competitor, who makes great decisions under immense pressure."

A premier performer in the TAC Cup last year for the North Ballarat Rebels, where he averaged 37 disposals an outing, Crouch joined his brother Brad at the Crows. However, the pair is yet to play a home and away game together after Brad's leg fracture in Round Two. Brad finished runner-up in the Rising Star award last season.

Matt Crouch is Adelaide’s seventh Rising Star nominee in coach Brenton Sanderson’s tenure. Only expansion team GWS has had more nominees (12) in this period. Defender Daniel Talia won the award in 2012.