Crauford coming from the clouds

By ZAC MILBANK

Mature-age Norwood ruckman Henry Crauford is emerging as an AFL Draft bolter as interest in the 22-year-old continues to swell.

It’s understood at least 10 AFL clubs have expressed interest in the 22-year-old, who won this year’s Reserves Best and Fairest with the Redlegs.

Measuring in at 204cm and 102kg, Crauford was unable to break into the Redlegs’ Statewide Super League team this year due to the presence of premiership bigman Sam Baulderstone.

But the boy from Mount Burr has impressed with his mobility for his size, together with clean hands in the air and at ground level.

Originally focused on swimming, where he would train with and compete against Olympic Gold Medallist Kyle Chalmers, Crauford has been a late developer since concentrating on Australian Football since 2016.

Before joining Norwood for the 2019 season, Crauford played in back-to-back premierships with Mount Burr, the second of which in 2017 resulted in him claiming the medal as best afield in the Grand Final.

Having played in Immanuel College’s First XVIII team, the lanky Redleg also won A Grade Best and Fairest trophies with the Mozzies in 2017 and 2018.

Invited to test at the AFL State Combine in October, Crauford is being strongly considered by a number of clubs searching for a genuine ruck prospect, raising hopes he could be snapped up late in the AFL National Draft or in the AFL Rookie Draft next week.