Season by Season

If there was ever a prime example that the Doig Medal rewards those who do their role for the team and do it consistently, then Ryan Crowley’s 2012 season is exhibit A.

He enjoyed a tremendous season playing as a tagger. The list of star midfielders Crowley shut down on a weekly basis in 2012 was a who’s-who of Brownlow Medallists, All-Australians and club champions.

He is now a club champion in his own right after winning the Doig Medal.

The arrival of senior coach Ross Lyon and an improved fitness base following a grinding pre-season can be credited for reviving Crowley’s career at Freo, which, on Doig Medal night, he admitted was close to being over at the end of the 2011 season.

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Ryan Crowley had an up and down year in 2011. He played 19 games but he found himself omitted from the team on a couple of occasions throughout the season. At his best, he is an elite stopper in the competition, as some of his scalps in the past can atone to. What Crowley needs to do in 2012 is reassert himself as Freo’s premier midfield-minder. He has a fan in new Freo coach Ross Lyon, who has already indicated that Crowley’s tagging abilities will be an important part of next year’s structure.

Crowley played 18 games in 2010 after appearing in only six the year before due to injury. He continued in his customary role as a run-with player, shutting down some of the AFL's best midfielders and attacking defenders. While applying a forward tag in 2010, Crowley also proved to be a dangerous goal-sneak, with a five-goal haul in round 14 against Port Adelaide the highlight.