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Hawthorn’s Croad retires

  • Friday, February 19 2010 @ 10:01 pm ACDT
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Oceania

Last month New Zealand born Hawks premiership defender Trent Croad retired. Grandson of All Black (NZ Rugby) Eric Boggs, he had not played since the 2008 grand final, when he broke his foot in the second quarter in the win over Geelong. Hawthorn gave their star every chance to recover but the injury proved persistent.

Croad retires having won All-Australian honours in 2005 and was selected in International Rules Series to play in 1999, 2000, and 2005.

Croad joined the Hawks as a first round selection (no. 3 overall) in the 1997 National Draft, and debuted in his first season, kicking 84 goals from 79 games in his first four seasons with the Club. He was then lured to Fremantle as part of a trade which saw then-number one draft pick Luke Hodge and current captain Sam Mitchell join the Hawks.

Croad, who had played most of his early AFL football as a key forward, was then traded back to the Hawks in 2004 and went about establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the AFL.

Croad was always supportive of NZ football heading over as part of the early promotions team for the NAB Cup game between Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs early last decade and also spending time with the Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs (Wellington, NZ) when they did their Melbourne tour in 2001. This support continues in his role with the HANZ UP programme developed between Hawthorn and AFL New Zealand.

Trent Croad Statistics

Clubs: Hawthorn (1998-2001: 84 games, 79 goals); Fremantle (2002-03: 38 games, 61 goals); Hawthorn (2004-2010: 100 games, 49 goals )
Recruited from: Narre Warren/Dandenong U18/Fremantle
Draft history: 1997 National AFL Draft 1st round selection (Hawthorn) No. 3 overall; 2001 National AFL Draft traded by Hawthorn for No. 1 (Luke Hodge), No. 20 (Daniel Elstone) and No. 36 (Sam Mitchell); 2003 NAB AFL Draft traded by Fremantle for No. 10 (Ryley Dunn - now rookie listed at Hawthorn!).

AFL Awards: All-Australian 2005; International Rules Series 1999, 2000, 2005; AFL Rising Star nominee 1998; Hawthorn premiership side 2008; Hawthorn pre-season premiership side 1999

Club Awards: 2nd best and fairest 2004; Fremantle leading goalkicker 2002




From the archives... pictured is Trent Croad back in 2001, along with coaching legend David Parkin and New Zealand's Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs.