Kruse was named after his father, Max Kruse, a former Prahran ruckman who represented the Victorian Football Association at the 1953 Adelaide Carnival.[2][3] Kruse senior was appointed coach of New South Wales club Leeton in 1957 and his son was born the following year.[2]
In 1978, Kruse kicked 52 goals for Leeton,[4] playing mainly from centre half forward and finished third in the league medal, the Gammage Medal, on 16 votes.[5] He played in their 1978 premiership when Leeton defeated Turvey Park in the SWDFL grand final.
A centre half-forward / centre half-back, Kruse joined South Melbourne in 1979 and played eight games that year, all from round 13.[6] He made another nine appearances in 1980, then from 1981 to 1984 put together 53 consecutive games.[6] A thigh injury in 1985 kept him out of the league team for much of the year and he played only three games.[2][6] It would be Kruse's final season with the Swans, he then spent four years with Glenelg from 1986 to 1989, after moving to South Australia for business reasons.[2] He was a member of Glenelg's 1986 premiership team.[7]
References
^Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN9781920910785.
Semi-Final: South Australia 12.8 (80) defeated New South Wales 8.11 (59), at Football Park, 3 March 1988 3rd Play-Off: New South Wales 10.8 (68) defeated Western Australia 9.12 (66), at Football Park, 5 March 1988