Brad Crouch feels he’s building back towards peak fitness and form after a luckless run with injury through the past two seasons.

An Achilles issue and a fractured leg ruined Crouch’s 2014 campaign, while the talented midfielder was sidelined for all of last season with a lingering foot injury.

The 22-year-old played the opening two games of this season before he was then struck down by a hamstring strain. Crouch returned for two senior games in Rounds Seven and Eight, but was given another short stint in the SANFL to regain confidence and touch after such a long time away from competition.

But Crouch looked back to his best in Sunday’s 60-point win over Carlton. The Ballarat boy relished a rainy afternoon at the MCG to win a season-high 29 possessions and seven clearances in another glimpse of his glowing potential.

He’s now averaged 25 possessions and six clearances in his last three AFL outings and looks to be improving with every match.

Crouch felt he was beginning to get some continuity back in his game.

“I think it’s been a bit of a process over the last 12 months just getting my body right, getting match fit and getting back to playing footy,” Crouch told afc.com.au following the win over the Blues.

“You definitely lose touch over 12-18 months off. I guess the last month or so, I’ve started to feel strong and hopefully I can string a few more good games together.”

The Five: Round 16 v Carlton

Crouch was one of several Crows who lifted after a hard-fought opening half at the MCG. Adelaide led by 23 points, courtesy of a trio of goals in the dying minutes of the second term, but struggled to play its natural, free-flowing style.

Ironically, it was a light shower which helped open the floodgates for the Crows. Crouch, his brother Matt (32 possessions, 13 contested) and Brownlow Medal contender Rory Sloane (34 possessions, 20 contested) stalked the packs and instigated a match-winning surge in the second half.

Adelaide scored seven goals to one and held Carlton goalless in the third quarter to put the result beyond doubt and canter to a seventh-straight victory.

Crouch credited the team’s ability to play to the conditions and execute several subtle adjustments after half-time.

“Conditions were obviously a little bit sloppy, particularly in the second half,” he said.

“But I think as a midfield we did adapt to it pretty well and got the job done.

“One of the main things (we adjusted)… was to kick it a little bit more. I think we over-handballed a little bit at times. As a midfield, we were letting them go up third-man a little bit.

“We cut that out and gave our forwards a lot more opportunity, because early on we weren’t giving them great service.

“It was a tough fight in the middle throughout the whole day but I think we got the result we wanted and had a good win.”

The victory pushed Adelaide inside the top four for the first time this season. After two games at the MCG, the Crows return to Adelaide Oval on Saturday night to host a resurgent Collingwood in what will be Scott Thompson’s 300th AFL game.

The Magpies sit in 11th place, but upset top-four fancies Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, proving they cannot be underestimated.

“Collingwood have been playing really good footy for the last two or three weeks,” Crouch said.

“They’ve got some real quality players. They’re definitely a dangerous side, as is just about anyone now.

“It’s going to be awesome (for Thommo’s 300th). He’s a Club Champion. We’ll definitely have to be on our game for him and I think to get a win would be great for the big fella.”