Matthew Jaensch Biography

Matthew Jaensch settles out of court in his civil claim against a man who broke his jaw in an Adelaide hotel more than four years ago.

Jaensch was suing a man for punching him in the face at the General Havelock Hotel in September 2011 but the defendant claimed his actions were reasonable, alleging Jaensch was sexually assaulting a woman earlier in the night.

In a statement released by the Adelaide Football Club, Jaensch emphatically denied such allegations.

“During this lengthy matter, I have also been accused of indecent assault which I emphatically deny and in fact I have never been approached by police,” Jaensch said.

“I found the unsubstantiated allegations of an indecent assault offensive.”

Matthew Jaensch will return to the Adelaide hills to play for his hometown of Hahndorf.

The defender's decision to quit the AFL and go back to the Hahndorf Magpies has both shocked and excited local club officials.

"It's come as a real surprise," Hahndorf president Steve Harvey said.

"I think Matt had been toying with the idea for some time, just due to the way he was feeling about the pressures of playing in the AFL.

"He's always loved coming back here, he's got a lot of mates who still play here, and we always expected to come home one day – but none of us expected it to happen this early in his footy life."

Matthew Jaensch announces hire retirement from AFL football, effective immediately.

"Playing in the AFL takes a great deal of focus and commitment and right now I’ve lost my passion to play the game I grew up loving," Jaensch said.

"I would like to thank the club for the opportunity to be in the AFL for seven years and I am very proud to have played at the highest level, and feel really privileged to have taken the field with some of the superstars of the game.

"I would finally like to thank my teammates for their support and fun times shared, I wish them all the success for the coming season.

"I look forward to pursuing a new chapter of my life."

Adelaide teammate Rory Sloane says Jaensch's decision was perplexing.

"It's a strange circumstance. It's hard to comprehend a guy losing the love for the game he grows up playing," Sloane said.

"We just feel for Matty at the moment and we're there to help and support him at the moment."

Adelaide's head of football David Noble thanked Jaensch for his effort.

"Matthew has had to contend with a number of difficult events in recent times, including his recovery from a serious injury," Noble said.

"He is a talented footballer and we wish him the very best and will provide him with ongoing support as he transitions into the next phase of his life."

Matt Jaensch is caught drink driving while sidelined with a serious knee injury.

"The club is extremely disappointed by his actions and views this as a serious breach of our standards, not to mention those of the wider community," a statement from the Crows said.

"There will be no further comment at this stage."

Matt Jaensch says he is confident he'll return to the game inside the 12-months normally predicted for knee reconstruction rehabilitation.

"The doctors and surgeons have told me it's going to be 12 months, but I believe I recover quickly so hopefully I can get that to 10 months and see how I go," Jaensch said.

"I keep telling Andy Otten (another Adelaide knee reconstruction victim) anything he can do I can do better, he's looking at playing in the next month or so, so my goal is to beat [his recovery time].

"I'm a kid who just loves playing footy so it is tough. I had some sad moments straight after the game when mum and dad were in the rooms but you've just got to get over it.

"It's a team game, it's not about me – enjoyment is watching the boys play and seeing them win."

The Crow confirm that Matthew Jaensch has torn the ACL in his left knee.

Jaensch was injured during the win against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval in an innocuous incident where tried to turn during the third quarter and collapsed to the ground, clutching his knee.

He was immediately taken from the ground on a stretcher in a clear state of distress.

"Not a great result but it is what it is," Jaensch posted on Twitter.

"I cannot bloody wait to play footy again ... 365 days to go! And I will be counting every day!"

Matthew Jaensch has been rewarded for his breakout 2014 season, signing a new two-year deal with the Crows that will keep him at West Lakes until the end of 2016.

"I have always worked hard, but this season I have strived to achieve a new level of fitness," Jaensch said.

"I am really enjoying my footy and know I have a lot more improvement.

"I owe a fair bit to our defensive coach Darren Milburn and Daniel Talia, who have really guided and challenged me this year."

Matthew Jaensch has this year re-invigorated his career that was on the verge of stalling in 2013.

"Last year, being in and out of the side, you sort of fall out of love with the game and you don't really enjoy what you're doing," Jaensch said.

"I play this game for fun; everything else that comes with it is good as well, but I play it because I actually love the game.

"My best mate is 'Tex' and he was someone I spoke to at the end of last year – I was spending too much time at the club thinking about it and doing extras, whereas now I've got a good balance.

"My time spent at the club is spent all on footy, I don't really come here early just for the sake of it. When I'm here I'm working, and then I get away."

Hayden Ballantyne is found not guilty by the AFL Tribunal after a clash with Adelaide's Matthew Jaensch in a decision which has met the approval of Dockers coach Ross Lyon.

Jaensch took no further part in the game after suffering concussion but Lyon says there was no ill-intent from Ballantyne.

"Certainly it was at the aggressive end of that, but the intention was to compete for the ball," Lyon said.

"That's what we coach our players on - if you make the ball your object, you'll be OK.

"Everyone saw it that way, so I was pleased for Hayden. But more importantly I'm pleased for AFL football."

Matthew Jaensch will miss three weeks breaking his ribs from receiving a knock to the back of his ribcage in the second quarter against the Demons.

Adelaide defender Matthew Jaensch and midfielder Richard Douglas have extended their contracts with the Crows.

"Richard has won a best-and-fairest but he is now entering the prime years of his football career, so we look forward to him continuing to being a key part of this new era under Brenton Sanderson," Adelaide football operations general manager Phil Harper said about Douglas.

Harper also expressed delight in securing the services of Jaensch.

"His pace and elite kicking skills make him an important member of our team, now and into the future," Harper said in a statement.

"We are very happy Matthew has re-committed to the team as we enter an exciting period for the club."

Taylor Walker and Matthew Jaensch have heeded coach Brenton Sanderson's call for a more aggressive approach in 2012 after the pair came to blows during a scratch match at training.

Crows defender Matt Jaensch has had surgery to repair a broken jaw after an altercation in an Adelaide bar at the weekend.

Jaensch is understood to be looking to press charges against his attacker.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has praised the decision to suspend three players in Graham Johncock, Bernie Vince and Matthew Jaensch for misbehaviour after the team rallied to beat Brisbane for just their second win this year.

"It'll be their choice now about the decisions they make, in terms of challenging the standards of our footy club irrespective of the results we're getting," he said.

"It's pretty clear what will happen at our footy club if you challenge them. Now, it's back to them for a response."

Adelaide has revealed the reasons behind the suspensions of Bernie Vince, Matthew Jaensch and Graham Johncock.

Vince and Jaensch are said to have stayed out "beyond a reasonable time" following the Crows' loss to North Melbourne in Melbourne.

Johncock has been penalized for failing to attend a recovery session while recuperating from a shoulder injury.

"It would've been very easy for the leadership group to know that information and to sweep it under the carpet," Crows assistant coach David Noble said.

"At 1-7 we thought it was a very courageous and honest decision from the leadership group to come to us and say, 'these standards aren't what we're about'."

Bernie Vince, Matthew Jaensch and Graham Johncock have been handed a club suspension by the Crows senior leadership group for failing to meet "training and preparation standards".

Matthew Jaensch makes his AFL debut for Adelaide at Football Park with 11 disposals (8 kicks and 3 handballs), 7 marks and 5 tackles in a 23-point loss to Port Adelaide.