The 40-year-old joins the club through a connection with long-time friend and new Crows coach Dale Power, who was appointed to the role in October last year.

Manton made his AFL debut for Essendon in 1992, where he played 21 games, before joining Carlton in the premiership season of 1995. He went on to appear 157 times for the Blues, which included a grand final defeat by North Melbourne in 1999. He also played in three night flags across both clubs.

Manton signs from Taylors Lakes in the Essendon District Football League.

"He's got some commitments to the Victoria Country under-18 team, but apart from that he'll be pretty right for the year," Power told The Courier.

"We will be trying to utilise him across the field so everyone in the team gets to play alongside him more or less and feed off his wares, I guess.

"Even though he's 40, he's not coming as a token gesture, he's coming to play some really good football.

"We expect him to play and play well when he plays."

Power said Manton, a co-founder of Whitelion, an organisation which assists troubled youths, would be involved in a partnership with the Crows and would advocate men's health and good lifestyle choices at the club and potentially surrounding communities.

Following his AFL career, Manton tried his hand at high-level soccer and also represented Australia in bobsledding.