SAM Crawley’s weekly trips home to the south-west are evidence of his commitment to Terang Mortlake.
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The Bloods utility, who will play his 100th Hampden league senior game against South Warrnambool on Saturday, works on high-rise buildings in Melbourne as a concreter.
Crawley, 22, wanted to keep playing for the Bloods after he moved 212 kilometres away a year ago.
He made his senior debut in 2012 and has “only missed one or two games since then”.
“It’s been a bit of luck,” Crawley said.
“I started down back and the last couple of weeks have played on a wing and Joe Arundell has gone back.
“It’s something different. I am getting there slowly.”
Bloods coach Michael Sargeant said Crawley “really durable”.
“He’s loyal to the club as well. He’s travelled back from Melbourne this year and his family has a long history with the football club,” he said.
Crawley, whose mum Kerrie is a former club A grade netball coach, has relished a new role in 2018.
“This year we’ve pushed him up the ground and onto a wing and he’d predominantly been down back,” Sargeant said.
“It’s been good for him. He is pretty tall but is pretty quick so he gives us explosion and, having played back line, he also has that defensive mindset.”
Crawley’s brothers Joel and Jake also play senior football.