Adelaide's All Australian midfielder Matt Crouch admits to fearing his AFL career may have been ended by groin problems last year.
Crouch, 26, didn't play an AFL premiership game in 2021 after pre-season hip surgery led to ongoing groin issues.
"I definitely had queries at times whether I'd get back to AFL level and play again," Crouch told reporters on Monday.
"It was frustrating, so I think you get an appreciation of being fit and healthy and playing and doing what you love.
"It's obviously a challenging time.'
Crouch played in Adelaide's initial practice match in 2021 before suffering groin issues.
The prolific ball-winner tried to press on and made a comeback in state league ranks when soreness flared again and he was sent for season-ending surgery.
"It was a bit of a battle," he said.
Crouch, who was the Crows' 2017 club champion, the same year he was an All Australian, was sent for more groin surgery last October.
But he has featured in both of Adelaide's trial games in the past fortnight.
"I have proven to myself I'm right to go again." he said.
"It was great to be out there with the boys and play some footy.
"Since having surgery at the end of the season, that's really helped with the pain side of things and I'm feeling good again."
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said Crouch's return was a fillip for his side -- the youngest in the competition.
"You talk about that dynamic movement, he has got that back," Nicks told the club's website.
"He feels good about his body and that gives him mental strength.
"He is one of our best first-possession, inside midfielders so we are really keen for him now to step up and help guys like Harry Schoenberg and Luke Pedlar, those (young) sort of players.
"And I have got no doubt he will because one his weapons is his on-field leadership which we didn't get to see last year."
