Ben Crocker

Ben Crocker (born 19 February 1997) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He also previously played for the Collingwood Football Club.

Ben Crocker
Crocker playing for Collingwood in June 2017
Personal information
Full name	Ben Crocker
Date of birth	(1997-02-19) 19 February 1997 (age 27)
Original team(s)	Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)/Carey Grammar
Draft	65th pick, 2015 National Draft
Debut	Round 7, 2016, Collingwood vs. Carlton, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s)	Midfielder / Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2016-2019	Collingwood	26 (21)
2020	Adelaide	07 0(4)
Total		33 (25)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

State football

Crocker played for the Kew Comets and the Canterbury Cobras in the Yarra Junior Football League in his youth.^[1] Crocker played and captained the Oakleigh Chargers,^[2] leading them to a premiership, kicking a goal against Eastern Ranges in the 2015 TAC Cup season Grand Final.^[3] He represented Vic Metro at 2015 AFL Under 18 Championships, serving as vice-captain together with Sam Weideman and Nick O'Kearney under captain Theo Thompson.^[4] He kicked a goal in the opening match against Vic Country, where he was named amongst the best players,^[5] and kicked goals against South Australia^[6] and in the second match against Vic Country.^[7] In the final match of the Championships, Crocker kicked three goals against South Australia, including the winning goal.^[8]

AFL career

Collingwood

Crocker was drafted by Collingwood with the 65th pick of the 2015 national draft.^[9] After showing good form in the Victorian Football League (VFL), kicking seven goals in four matches and averaging 11 disposals per match, he made his debut for Collingwood's senior team on 7 May 2016 against their arch-rivals Carlton.^[10] In October 2019, Crocker was delisted by Collingwood,^[11] but was allowed to continue training at the Holden Centre.^[12]

Adelaide

Crocker was given a second chance in November, when he was re-drafted by Adelaide in the 2020 rookie draft.^[13] Tyson Goldsack, Crocker's room-mate, former team-mate, and current development coach at Port Adelaide, claimed that he has what it takes to make it in the AFL.^[14] Crocker trained and worked hard after arriving in Adelaide, making captain Rory Sloane say he deserves a spot in the best 22.^[15] He made his debut for Adelaide in the second round of the 2020 season, against Port Adelaide, kicking a goal.^[16][17]

Crocker was delisted at the end of 2020. He signed for the Carlton reserves in 2021,^[18] and played there for three seasons, including as captain in 2023.^[19]

Personal life

Crocker grew up as a Collingwood supporter, living next door to former captain Scott Burns.^[20] He was educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School.^[21] His brother, Sam, was drafted by St Kilda in the 2010 draft, but he was delisted after two years without making a senior appearance.^[22] In 2014, Crocker's father, Paul, was diagnosed with early onset dementia, and he became an ambassador for Dementia Australia, helping raise funds.^[23]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2020 season^[24]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2016	Collingwood	39	10	10	6	50	41	91	30	13	1.0	0.6	5.0	4.1	9.1	3.0	1.3
2017	Collingwood	39	3	3	2	18	11	29	14	8	1.0	0.7	6.0	3.7	9.7	4.7	2.7
2018	Collingwood	39	10	5	8	74	31	105	42	16	0.5	0.8	7.4	3.1	10.5	4.2	1.6
2019	Collingwood	39	3	3	2	17	6	23	9	9	1.0	0.7	5.7	2.0	7.7	3.0	3.0
2020	Adelaide	20	7	4	5	45	10	55	10	17	0.6	0.7	6.4	1.4	7.8	3.2	2.4
Career			33	25	23	204	99	303	117	63	0.8	0.7	6.2	3.0	9.2	3.0	1.9

References

1. "YJFL Current AFL Players". Yarra Junior Football League. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
2. Gliddon, Greg (4 February 2015). "Kew's Ben Crocker eyes off AFL career". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
3. Twomey, Callum (27 September 2015). "Answerth stars as Oakleigh wins TAC Cup GF". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
4. "Thompson to captain Vic Metro". TAC Cup. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
5. Twomey, Callum (24 May 2015). "U18s: Vic Country stuns with after-the-siren win over Vic Metro". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
6. Schmook, Nathan (30 May 2015). "South Australia downs Vic Metro in U18s led by flying Francis". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
7. Twomey, Callum (7 June 2015). "U18s: Returning prospect Darcy Parish stars as Vic Country downs Metro". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
8. Whiting, Michael (1 July 2015). "U18s: Ben Crocker's last-gasp goal gives Vic Metro win over SA". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
9. "Welcome to Collingwood: Ben Crocker". Collingwood. BigPond. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018.
10. Gastin, Sam (5 May 2016). "Round 7 team: A fourth debutant is named". Collingwood. BigPond. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
11. Ramsey, Michael (28 October 2019). "Glimmer of hope for axed Pies' AFL veteran". The Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
12. Turner, Kieron (6 December 2019). "'Not even Swanny got this type of send-off'". Adelaide. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
13. "AFL Draft news, AFL rookie draft, Ben Crocker, Ben Keays, AFL draft 2019, Adelaide news, Collingwood". Fox Sports. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
14. Mills, Sam (4 December 2019). "Collingwood premiership hero believes Ben Crocker has what it takes". 1116 SEN. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
15. Gabelich, Josh (10 March 2020). "Adelaide recruit Ben Crocker looks set for Round 1 debut five months after being delisted by Collingwood". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
16. Turner, Kieron (11 June 2020). "Team Selection: Round Two". Adelaide. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
17. McGowan, Marc (13 June 2020). "Renewable Power source: Young guns provide spark in big Showdown win". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
18. "Crocker becomes a 'Bagger". Carlton Football Club. 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
19. "Carlton Reserves squad list". Carlton Football Club. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
20. "Ben Crocker". Collingwood Forever. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
21. "From the Deputy Head of Middle School". Carey Baptist Grammar School. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
22. Twomey, Callum (5 August 2015). "Crockers riding the draft's rollercoaster". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
23. McNicol, Adam (18 April 2018). "Crocker's courage". Collingwood. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
24. "Ben Crocker". AFL Tables. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

External links

• Ben Crocker's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
• Ben Crocker's playing statistics from AFL Tables