Trent Eric Croad (born 9 March 1980 in New Zealand), is a professional Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Croad has achieved some of the Australian Football League's highest honours including an AFL premiership medallion, All-Australian selection and has also represented both Victoria and Australia on multiple occasions.

Early life

Born in New Zealand, the grandson of Eric Boggs, an All Blacks rugby union player between 1946-1949 including the tour of South Africa, Trent migrated with his family to Australia and grew up in Narre Warren in Victoria. He began playing Aussie Rules at a young age and attended De La Salle College Malvern.

He was scouted by recruiters and as an 18-year-old and nominated for the 1997 AFL Draft. Croad was invited to the AFL Draft camp where he set the draft camp record for a standing jump at 83 cm, which remains a decade later.

AFL career

Draft to Hawthorn

Hawthorn picked up Croad at number 3 in the draft. He started out as a defender, playing at either centre half-back or fullback. But he showed his versatility as his career went on, being able to play in any number of key positions.

Fremantle years

Croad was traded from Hawthorn to the Fremantle Dockers at the end of 2001. The picks given up by Fremantle were used by Hawthorn to select current Hawthorn star Luke Hodge, Daniel Elstone, and midfielder Sam Mitchell, whilst Luke McPharlin joined Croad in moving west. While Croad was reasonable but not spectacular at the Dockers, in 2002, he was Fremantle's leading goalkicker with 42 goals. The following season Croad lost confidence and kicked 18 goals, he cited homesickness and asked to be traded back to Victoria at the end of 2003.

Return to Hawthorn

He was traded back to his old club Hawthorn, this time only in return for pick 10, which was used by Fremantle to select youngster Ryley Dunn. Croad's was told that he would be the centre half back, with a regular position his form improved once he went back to the Hawks, winning All-Australian selection in 2005.

Croad relished the responsibility of being the senior man down back being strong, athletic type who took the oppositions best forward each week.During the second quarter of the 2008 Grand Final Croad broke his foot and played no further part in the game. Hawthorn went on to win the match and Croad earned his first Premiership medallion in over 200 games of AFL football.

Croad missed the entire 2009 season because of his grand final injury.

Representative honours

In 1999, he represented Victoria in State of Origin.

In 2005, he was an All-Australian selection.

In 2008, he again represented Victoria, playing on Hawthorn teammate Lance Franklin in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match.

Off the field

Croad not only has a successful football career, but his good looks have been used to appear at several social functions, including the 2005 Flemington Spring Racing Carnival fashion launch, and appearances on Western Australian food and wine TV shows. He has also appeared in the Men For All Seasons calendar.

Trent wears a tattoo of the silver fern, the national emblem of New Zealand on the inside of his right arm.

On the 14 October 2006 Croad married Tanya Stewart. Together they run a male hair-care company called Gear and they have two daughters, Kiera (born July 2007) and Sierra (born October 21 2009).

He met with his heroes, the All Blacks in June, 2007.

References

External links

• Hawthorn player profile