Former New Zealand Senior Captain Andrew Crighton will take up the position as head coach for the Western Crows in the 2018 AFL New Zealand Premiership.
Andrew has a strong history of involvement with AFL within New Zealand. His starting point was initially as a 16 year old playing for the local North Shore Tigers side in Auckland. After developing rapidly, he became one of the Auckland AFL’s star players and was soon representing Auckland at the NPC.
Crighton made his debut for the NZ senior side in 2006 at the Queensland Country Championships and was selected in the 2008 International Cup squad where he was named in the best 22 players in the tournament, and the great honour of selection in the World Team.
At the 2011 International Cup, Crighton took on the captaincy role of the Senior New Zealand team with his uncompromising nature a feature of both his captaincy and his on field performance.
He Captained the NZ senior side from 2012-2013 before making the move to Melbourne where he played for the Balwyn Tigers in Victoria’s Eastern Football League.
His last game playing in the national side was in 2013 against the Australian Under 17 AFL Academy at Westpac Stadium. Playing against current superstars such as Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans), Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong Cats) and Darcy Moore (Collingwood Magpies), Crighton was named best on ground in with a phenomenal performance during the game.
In his debut season in Melbourne, Crighton received the clubs best and fairest award and in 2013, captaining the Balwyn Tigers reserve grade side.
A horrific head injury cut short his AFL playing career and will now focus on a coaching role developing New Zealand’s best AFL talent.
After winning the Premiership in the competitions inaugural year, the Western Crows finished in fourth position in 2017. Crighton is determined and driven to help make the Crows a Premiership winning side again.
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