It's not cheating, its just being tactical and using your physical ability to shut down your oppositions best player. Carlton have two players (Carrazzo, Curnow) who do what Crowley does just because Crowley does it and does it probably the best in the AFL, doesn't mean his not a footballer and cheats.
Crowley is so over the top that the impression of him is simple. He's better at harrasing and spoiling and elbowing and niggling and just plain being a smart arsed mongrel, as opposed to being a competent footballer.
Last years grand final he was told to stop Mitchell, it was planned by Hawthorn for Sam to do a job on Crowley, not by shadow, he didn't have to worry about that because Crowley would be all over him, and next to him.So Sam out played Crowley and by being as dangerous a player for Hawthorn at the same time. It worked , Crowley may have taken the stat number down a bit on Sam Mitchell, but Sam did his job on and Crowley was an "easy " nuisance for Sammy.
It worked , Crowley ineffective.
My point being Crowley is just that , a nuisance , his contribution to a football match is stopping an opponent who is too good, from having influence on the game.
Tagger tactics to the limit , are ruining some games and letting lower skilled , perhaps not very good footballers get names for just being holders and abusers and if there is a prize for that Crowley is champion , but he is no footballer.
Not like Ballantyne who can win a game of his boot.
Crowley could do no worse padlocking the opposition player he's given, in the club room tiolet. Ha ha.Then he could sit on the bench and drink coffee.