On the eve of his AFL debut, Hayden Crozier says he’s “nervous but excited” to run out as a Fremantle Docker for the first time.
“It’s always a dream to play your first game, and for it to become a reality, I’m really happy,” he said.
After finding out he’d be playing, the 18-year-old called his parents back home in Victoria.
“Mum and Dad were walking and Dad always puts his phone on loudspeaker, so I could hear my mum screaming in the back ground,” he said.
The youngest player on Fremantle’s squad, Crozier is no stranger to the ‘speccy’ mark.
He took a screamer in last year’s Under 18’s National Championships playing for Victoria at Patersons Stadium, the same ground he’ll make his AFL debut at tomorrow against Adelaide.
“John Patton, my teammate at Eastern Ranges, kicked it to me, it sat up perfectly and I was lucky enough to run onto it,” Crozier said.
Describing himself as an athletic half-forward that can kick a goal, Crozier has been building form and fitness in the WAFL for East Perth, an experience he said had benefited him greatly heading into his first Fremantle game.
“Getting used to senior footy is always a good thing,” he said.
“East Perth has been very good and very welcoming to me and I’ve loved my time there.”
Apart from his 92cm vertical leap and a ton of enthusiasm, the latest Fremantle Docker to pull on the purple jumper planned to bring with him a bit of speed and the great effort his coach demands.
“I’ll try as hard as I can and, hopefully, help the team get over the line.”
