As one of the AFL’s most marketable players, with a successful 16-year career at Hawthorn Football Club, Shane Crawford is one of the few players who has made a seamless transition into life in the media.
Originally from Finley in New South Wales, Shane received his football grounding at Assumption College. He developed into one of the AFL’s premier players, entertaining football fans with his superb skills, endurance and tremendous courage.
Shane played 305 career AFL games for the Hawthorn Football Club. He was a member of Hawthorn’s 2008 Premiership side. He is a four-time All Australian player and played in three International Rules series for Australia. He became captain of Hawthorn in 1999 and that season also won the AFL's top individual honours, the Brownlow Medal and the Leigh Matthews Trophy. He also won four Hawthorn Best & Fairest Awards (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003).
The charismatic premiership player has demonstrated a range of talent that has won him many fans, with his quick wit, empathy with a wide audience, and natural ease on camera.
Having had a long association with Channel Nine as a key member of the Footy Show, Shane is currently a presenter on the Today Show, Sport Sunday and Postcards. In addition, Shane will be joining the fifth season of Australian Ninja Warrior 2021 sharing the hosting and sideline commentary duties.
In 2010, Shane released his autobiography That’s What I’m Talking About and in 2014 he published a series of children’s books, Crawf’s Kick it to Nick.
In 2019, Shane appeared in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! on the Ten Network and exiting the Jungle in third place.
Shane is an ambassador for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). In 2010, Crawf - as he is affectionately known - completed an amazing feat to make Aussies proud, walking from Adelaide to Melbourne to raise money and awareness for BCNA. That’s What I’m Walkin’ About lasted 12 days, raised $620,000, and saw Shane run back onto The Footy Show set through streets lined with supporters dressed in pink. In 2013, Shane raised more than $1.3 million for BCNA after riding 3,600 kilometres from Melbourne to Perth in 22 days on his marathon Tour de Crawf. Shane is also an ambassador for Just Like Jack.
Shane has been appointed the Senior Coach of the Ardmona Cats Football Club for 2021 as they chase their first victory in five years in what is the Club’s 101st year anniversary.
The well-seasoned media performer has a national profile which suits both media and corporate organisations looking for a face for their brand. Shane is an ambassador for Tabcorp and AIA Vitality and is also a sought-after keynote speaker and MC/Host.
A devoted family man, Crawford lives in Melbourne with partner Olivia and their sons Charlie, Benjamin and twins Harry and Jack.