Matthew Kreuzer

Matthew Kreuzer
File:Matthew Kruezer
Personal information
Original team(s)	Northern Knights
Draft	1
Debut	Round 3, 2008, Carlton vs. Essendon, at MCG
Height / weight	200cm / 100kg
Position(s)	Ruckman/Half Forward
Playing career1
Carlton (2008 –) 56 games, 31 goals
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2008.
Career highlights
AFL NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee, R11 2008 TAC Cup Morrish Medal (2007) TAC Cup Coaches Award (2007) Vic Metro Most Valuable Player Award (2007) All-Australian U/18 (2006, 2007) TAC Cup Team of the Year (2006, 2007) Vic Metro U/18 (2006, 2007) Vice-Captain of Vic Metro (2007) Northern Knights Best & Fairest Award (2007) Vice-Captain of Northern Knights (2007) AIS-AFL Academy Squad (2005, 2006) AFLPA Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship Holder (2005) Vic Metro U/16 MVP Award (2005) Vic Metro U/16 (2005)
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Matthew Kreuzer (born 13 May 1989) is an Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club. He was selected with the first pick overall in the 2007 AFL National Draft.

Kreuzer played for St Marys Greensborough Junior Football Club and Bundoora Football Club as a junior before moving to the Northern Knights to play under-18s football with them in the TAC Cup in 2006 and 2007. Kreuzer established himself as both the team's #1 ruckman and as a key forward during that time, scoring 51 goals in his 33 games with the Knights. In 2007, he won the Morrish Medal and the Knights' best and fairest, and he was selected in the Victorian Metropolitan and All-Australian under-18s teams, and the TAC Cup Teams of the Year in both 2006 and 2007.

Noted for possessing a level of agility and endurance unusual for a player of his size, Kreuzer was widely expected to be selected early in the 2007 AFL Draft.. He was selected by Carlton with its priority draft pick (#1 overall) in the draft. Kreuzer made his AFL debut in Round 3 of the 2008 season against Essendon at the MCG on 5 April, 2008, impressing on debut and scoring a goal with his first kick. He played largely as the second ruckman through the early part of the season. He earned a NAB Rising Star nomination in his ninth game (against Port Adelaide), after moving into the forward-line in the final quarter and scoring three goals, which helped Carlton overcome a 30-point deficit in wet conditions; he would ultimately poll eleven votes to finish fourth for the award. Towards the end of the season, Kreuzer was playing both ruck and forward roles. He was noted for his accuracy in front of goal, scoring 13 goals and only one behind in his debut season.

Kreuzer played all twenty-three games in his second season, again sharing ruck duties and spending some time in the forward-line, scoring thirteen goals. Kreuzer finished fifth in the John Nicholls Medal.

Kreuzer continued as one of the club's top two ruckmen in 2010. He played his 50th AFL game in Round 7. Unfortunately, Kreuzer ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament after landing awkwardly in a marking contest Round 13, 2010 (after 56 consecutive games from debut). He had a conventional knee reconstruction, and is unlikely to return to football earlier than the middle of 2011.

References

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