Pictures: J.L. “FRED” SMITH
MOUNT Burr’s chances of returning to the top of the premiership table in 2019 have been dealt a blow with news that champion ruckman Henry Crauford is moving to Adelaide.
The 20-year-old will try his hand in the SANFL with 2018 runners-up Norwood.
Crauford told The South Eastern Times he had informed his coach Tom Renzi of his move on the day after Mount Burr lost the grand final to Robe in a nail-biter.
“It will be hard to leave the Mount Burr club and it will always be my home,” Crauford said.
“I decided to go to Norwood as they were one of the first clubs to approach me about 18 months ago.
“They are an approachable bunch and we went out there and had a look.
“I need to have an operation on a finger which has given me trouble over the past few years.
“I am doing a fitter and turning apprenticeship with Will Whitty at Whitty Engineering and I will finish this in Adelaide.”
Crauford will train with the Mozzies up to Christmas and then move to Adelaide in the New Year.
The news he was swapping the Mozzie colours of green-and-gold for the red-and-blue colours of the Redlegs was made public at the club’s presentation function on Friday night at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval.
Crauford had polled well but the best and fairest trophy was won by utility player Dylan Ridley.
Due to an association with newly-appointed coach Tom Renzi, Crauford had joined Mount Burr at the beginning of the 2016 season.
With Crauford undertaking most of the rucking duties, it allowed veteran ruckman Nick Morrison to play chiefly in the forward line and freed up Jake Dowdy for work in attack and defence.
Mount Burr went top in 2016 and 2017 and went within a whisker of another flag this month.
Standing around 200cm (6’6″), Crauford has been named in the best players on 28 occasions and booted 56 goals in his 54 appearances.
He took up the opportunity for representative honours this season as he played for the Mid South East Football League at Robe in June and then the Murray South East zone team at the South Australian Country Football Championships at Renmark in July.
Footy insiders believe many talent scouts from the SANFL took note of Crauford’s dominant play in the Riverland carnival.
Arguably his best season was 2017 when he won the Walker Medal as runner-up to Mail Medallist and Glencoe coach Zacc Cocks.
He won the Stan Jones Memorial Medal as best-on-ground in the 2017 grand final.
Not surprisingly, Crauford has nominated this victory over Hatherleigh as the high point of his time at Mount Burr to date.
Crauford is no stranger to awards, as his earlier sporting life had been focused on swimming.
As a 12-year-old member of the Blue Lake Y Swimming Club in Mount Gambier in 2010, Crauford won the Sport SA Country Athlete of the Year Award for his swimming prowess in the South Australian titles.
He had played underage football with North Gambier in the Western Border Football League and with Immanuel College in Adelaide.
The Crauford family has been active supporters of the Mozzies, with the player’s mother Sophie serving as treasurer.
Their livestock transport business has been a club sponsor.
Mount Burr United Football Club president Adam Gardiner praised Crauford’s contribution to the club and said he would be going to the capital city with the blessing of the Mozzies.
“We wish him all the best and we hope he enjoys his time in Adelaide,” Gardiner said.
He said the Mozzies would have the same coaches in 2019: Tom Renzi (A Grade), Jack Gregory (assistant), Peter Guyett (B Grade), Nathan Muhovics (senior colts) and Tim Little (junior colts).
