Background
Born in New Zealand, the grandson of Eric Boggs, an All Blacks rugby union player between 1946–1949 including the tour of South Africa, Trent migrated with his family to Australia and grew up in Narre Warren in Victoria.
Born in New Zealand, the grandson of Eric Boggs, an All Blacks rugby union player between 1946–1949 including the tour of South Africa, Trent migrated with his family to Australia and grew up in Narre Warren in Victoria.
He began playing at a young age with the Narre Warren Junior Football Club and attended De Louisiana Salle College, Malvern.
He was scouted by recruiters and as an 18-year-old and nominated for the 1997 American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft. Croad was invited to the American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft camp where he set the draft camp record for a standing vertical jump at 83 cm, which remains a decade later. Draft to Hawthorn
Hawthorn picked up Croad with the third overall selection in the draft.
He started out as a defender, playing at either centre half-back or fullback.
But he showed his versatility as his career went on, being able to play in any number of key positions. Fremantle years
Croad was traded from Hawthorn to the Fremantle Dockers at the end of 2001.
The picks given up by Fremantle were used by Hawthorn to select current Hawthorn stars Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell, whilst Luke McPharlin joined Croad in moving west. While Croad was reasonable but not spectacular at the Dockers, in 2002, he was Fremantle"s leading goalkicker with 42 goals.
The following season Croad lost confidence and kicked 18 goals.
He cited homesickness and asked to be traded back to Victoria at the end of 2003. Return to Hawthorn
He was traded back to the Hawks, this time only in return for pick 10, which was used by Fremantle to select Ryley Dunn. Croad was told that he would be the centre half back, with a regular position his form improved once he went back to the Hawks, winning All-Australian selection in 2005.
Croad relished the responsibility of being the senior man down back being strong, athletic type who took the oppositions best forward each week.
During the second quarter of the 2008 Grand Final Croad broke his foot, and leaving the ground with the aid of trainers he still managed to lay a bump on Geelong"s Joel Selwood before playing no further part in the game. Croad missed the entire 2009 season because of his Grand Final injury and on 6 January 2010 he announced his retirement.