You'd be excused for thinking that the highlights reel on a cold and blustery day was all about Brendan Fevola.  On our list of highlights, he was 1,2 and 3 - but in the wash-up from the game we perhaps unfairly considered Fev at his brilliant best as expected.  After all, Betts, Judd and Fevola would win Play of the Week most weeks so we should just talk to one of them on a three-weekly basis! But there was another highlight we were talking about, and from one of our most hard-working but inspiring youngsters.  Matthew Kreuzer's last quarter snap was pivotal to the game, and a joy to watch.  We decided to catch up with KRRROOOOOOOOZZZZEEEE during training this week and hand him the

Almost-Play-of-the-Week....:

Matthew, sorry for this - you didn't actually win Play of the Week, that went to Fev, but we figured he was getting enough glory for those goals we'd go to the next best option.  And that's you!

Thanks guys.

That was a ripper goal in the last - how much of the game do you think you were thrown forward for?

Yeah thanks, I was up there a little bit. Obviously swapping with Hampo in the ruck. He had to go off with a couple of times on the weekend with the blood rule and a couple of injury worries, he was fine, but it might have meant that I spent a little bit more time in the ruck.

Could you see yourself playing permanently forward one day, or is your main interest and expertise in rucking?

I don't think permanently, I love playing in the ruck also. Most teams play with the two ruckman, so it's more important than ever before to be versatile.

Much has been made of our potential "three-some" of rucks when Robbie Warnock is fit. How do you think having Hampson, Warnock and yourself in the one team might work, and what role might you play on the field?

It's very exciting for the club, throw Sammy Jacobs into the mix and there will be huge competition for spots. We are all very close and work with Matthew Capuano who has really helped me a lot. I suppose we will have to see what the coaching staff come up with. Robbie is not too far away, he probably play for the Bullants next week. I think it's a good problem to have.

You've largely held down the first ruck this year - how hard is that for a second year player?  Have you been playing sore?

Early on in the year we had Big Sauce in the team also, after he got injured its fallen to Hampo and I. We are both young and still developing and learning as players. You come up against some big tough opponents in the ruck its been a steep learning curve for us.

I'm pretty sure most players who take the field are sore at some stages throughout the season, that's the way it is, we are fortunate enough to have a really good conditioning unit at the club, we get looked after pretty well.

As part of that role, you've had to take on the monsters of the competition.  Who has been your hardest opponent?

There is a variation of ruckman this season with Ryder and Clark being talked about, but I think its still hard to topple big Sandilands.

You've taken on Sandilands twice this year - do you think you & Hammer learned much from the first time and applied it in the second match?

I think so, but I believe you could make that argument about most players we come up against. He certainly is a massive unit, and his is different to the type of ruckman you come up against most weeks.

How do you and Hampson go in ruck duals at training - he has a pretty good leap on him.  Who wins?

He has a massive leap and is really quick. We have a good go at it, I think its pretty close.

Last year you kicked something like 13 goals 1; this year its about 7 goals 7.  What's up? Chewy on your boot?

Haha, I haven't really changed anything, hopefully it will turn around for me.

You do know when the crowd yells out Kroooooozee that we're not booing you, don't you?

Yes, I'm aware of that! I appreciate it!

Do you keep in touch with Cotchin and your other mates from the Under 18's?

Yeah a bit, you obviously grow up with those guys and although footy takes up a lot of our time I still like to catch up with them. We try not to talk that much footy.

We've had some fairly inexperienced players come into the side this year such as Mitch Robinson, Mark Austin, Aaron Joseph, and Jeff Garlett. Of these players, who has most impressed you and why?

I don't think you can go past AJ (Joseph) - he has done some vital roles for us this year. He has worked really hard, it's a credit to him to come off the rookie list, I don't think he has missed a match this year.

Back to some of your opponents - Jolly was close to BOG last time we played the Swans.  How are you going to approach him this week?

Yeah he got hold of us on the SCG, we have gone back over the tape, hopefully it we will get on top of him this time.

Matty Kreuzer is a joy to watch - second and third efforts as standard, good skills, great pace, good ruckman, great endeavour - he is a ripper and a worthy winner of the Play of the Week

Please Note: the views expressed in the above article are solely the opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Carlton Football Club or those employees of the Club. The Carlton Football Club would like to acknowledge the tireless work of those supporters who contribute to carltonfc.com.au.