Adelaide Crows powerbrokers have penned a powerful open letter to the club’s members and fans amid the fallout from the club’s 2018 pre-season camp.
Three players – Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs – have come out in the last week expressing their disappointment in the camp which took place on the Gold Coast after the club’s loss in the 2017 AFL grand final.
Crows chairman John Olsen and CEO Tim Silvers were joint authors of the letter in which the club admitted “moving on will be difficult.”
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“It has been confronting to hear Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins describe their experiences during the 2018 pre-season training camp on the Gold Coast, as well as the subsequent hurt they have carried,” the letter read, in part.
“We apologize to Eddie, Josh and any other player, coach or staff member, who had a negative experience during this time.
“Equally we are sorry to hear Bryce Gibbs express his disappointment at the way in which the camp and events surrounding it were handled and its impact on the playing group, and we acknowledge there are others who may feel the same way.”
The letter notes the overwhelming staff turnover that has taken place at the club since the camp.
“There has been a significant amount of change at our club over the past couple of years. Most notably, the key leadership positions of chairman, chief executive officer, men’s senior coach and men’s head of football have all changed hands,” the letter read .
“In recent times there has also been a cultural shift and the focus is firmly on prioritizing others. This is a genuine intent that stretches beyond the football department and permeates throughout our organisation. It’s a whole of club approach.
“We are committed to emerging from this painful and challenging period and getting better. While we cannot rewrite history, we remain determined to learn from the past.”
The fallout from the camp has become a topic of discussion once again following Betts’ recount of his experiences in his autobiography, The Boy from Boomerang Crescentwhich released last week.
A SafeWork SA investigation in 2021 cleared the club of breaching health and safety laws, while an AFL investigation in 2018 determined the Crows had not breached any rules.
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ADELAIDE CHAIRMAN AND CEO’S FULL LETTER
We aspire to have everyone – players, coaches and staff – reflect on their time at the Crows in a positive manner and we are saddened that this has not been the case for everyone.
It has been confronting to hear Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins describe their experiences during the 2018 pre-season training camp on the Gold Coast, as well as the subsequent hurt they have carried.
We apologize to Eddie, Josh and any other player, coach or staff member, who had a negative experience during this time.
Equally we are sorry to hear Bryce Gibbs express his disappointment at the way in which the camp and events surrounding it were handled and its impact on the playing group, and we acknowledge there are others who may feel the same way.
The most important thing we can do now is listen and offer our support.
We know that moving on as a Club will be difficult. Everyone will do it in their own time and in their own way, and we sincerely hope that with the passage of time the healing process can take place.
There has been a significant amount of change at our Club over the past couple of years. Most notably, the key leadership positions of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Men’s Senior Coach and Men’s Head of Football have all changed hands.
In recent times there has also been a cultural shift and the focus is firmly on prioritizing others. This is a genuine intent that stretches beyond the football department and permeates throughout our organisation. It’s a whole club approach.
We are committed to emerging from this painful and challenging period and getting better. While we cannot rewrite history, we remain determined to learn from the past.
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