17 Facts About Matthew Kreuzer

Matthew Kreuzer was born on 13 May 1989 and is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Matthew Kreuzer was selected first overall pick in the 2007 AFL Draft.

Matthew Kreuzer established himself as both the team's No 1 ruckman and as a key forward during that time, scoring 51 goals in his 33 games with the Knights.

Matthew Kreuzer was selected by Carlton with its priority draft pick in the draft; Carlton received that draft pick only after losing its final round match against Melbourne in 2007, a controversial match which became known as the Kreuzer Cup.

Matthew 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.

Matthew Kreuzer played largely as the second ruckman through the early part of the season.

Matthew Kreuzer earned a NAB Rising Star nomination in his ninth game, 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, Matthew Kreuzer was playing both ruck and forward roles.

Matthew Kreuzer was noted for his accuracy in front of goal, scoring 13 goals and only one behind in his debut season.

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

Matthew Kreuzer continued as one of the club's top two ruckmen in 2010, and he played his 50th AFL game in Round 7.

In Round 13,2010, after 56 consecutive games from debut, Matthew Kreuzer ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament after landing awkwardly in a marking contest.

Matthew Kreuzer had a conventional knee reconstruction, and missed eleven months of football, returning to VFL football in May 2011 and to Carlton in Round 12,2011.

Matthew Kreuzer played every game for the rest of the 2011 home-and-away season, but after 12 months out of the game was well below his best, polling best-and-fairest votes only once.

In 2013, Matthew Kreuzer injured his foot in Carlton's round 1 33-point loss to Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

In 2017, Matthew Kreuzer had a career best season only missing one game.

Matthew Kreuzer was selected in the initial 40-man All Australian squad and finished third in Carlton's best and fairest.