All is not well at West Lakes, having lost their first six games of an expectant season, suffering the retirement of captain Simon Goodwin and suspending three players due to off-field indiscretions.
And now the Adelaide Crows have lost 320 game veteran and midfield maestro Tyson Edwards through his immediate retirement.
No farewell match, no recognition of his outstanding service over the last sixteen years. Something just doesn’t add up.
Edwards hasn’t been in the best of form. However, he’s been averaging 21 touches a game, second only to the reigning club champion Bernie Vince. He’s been contributing more to the side than a number of players, including other veterans Michael Doughty and Brett Burton.
Edwards was reportedly keen to play on in 2011. So, how did this sudden resignation occur?
The whisper resonating loudly from Adelaide is that Edwards was not selected in the weekend’s squad to play St Kilda in Melbourne. This is a staggering fact for a number of reasons. Edwards had been playing solid footy and is a major influence on the young Crows midfield. Surely, with 320 games and two premierships, he is entitled to play until the end of the season and go out on his own terms?
The Crows were reportedly keen for Edwards to keep playing, but also stated that he was not guaranteed a return to the AFL side. What other sixteen year stalwart of one club would accept these terms?
It’s an embarrassing and quite frankly offensive offer to one of their best players in the franchise’s short history. Edwards was outraged (rightly so) and chose to end his career on the spot.
Adelaide has form in regards to shuffling their players out in an inglorious fashion. The Crows second captain Tony McGuinness was delisted after the 1996 season, a move vindicated by the Crows winning the next two premierships. Iconic defender Nigel Smart was pushed out midway through 2004. Ben Hart was delisted after the 2006 season against his wishes, and nominated for the draft where he was overlooked. Both Smart and Hart have resolved their differences with the club. Smart is now a board member with the Crows and Hart has been an assistant coach to Neil Craig.
It remains to be seen as to whether Edwards will play any further role with the club off-field.
Edwards will be a massive loss to the Crows. One club players don’t come along very often, especially in the hustle and bustle of modern footy. Edwards was renowned for his tireless efforts and unmatched consistency. He was a champion of the Adelaide Crows, and regardless of how the Crows are under-performing in 2010, he deserved better.
This is simply another blot on the Adelaide Crows disappointing 2010 season.
Wayno
Guest
Crows fans are like pit bulls, they don't need much of a reason to turn nasty and boy, do they turn nasty. You can't blame Edwards for having had a gut full and wanting out with all of the palaver going on in Adelaide at the minute.
Wayno
Guest
He's got a game against Freo next week for bye bye's
Davro
Guest
How good would it be to be in management at the crows. Guaranteed membership, afluent, what an easy job swimming around in the trough. Their competence is dubious. They are in the position to make decisions but each time it appears they make the wrong ones. Player groups decide punishment for infringements and when there is public concern they get a committee to provide a report for future situations. How many people are there splashing around in the trough. Isnt there someone in charge. If the stats above are right and Tyson Edwards has been averaging second in stats. The only reason they would dump him like this is because his blue with McLeod has put him on the outer. One of the uper echilon said only a week ago that the senior players, and he included Tyson, are holding the show together. A player with his record playing in a team that is going nowhere should never been placed in this position. Obviously they have no idea. They should raffle of the crows coaching, boardand management positions or allocate them alphabetically. Who knows it could not get worse.
Herbert
Guest
As a fan of the Crows, I'm sad to see Edwards retire this way, however Edwards' form this season has been poor and for anyone who has watched him this season could see that the speed of the game has clearly caught up with him. No one is guaranteed a game, especially with a team with only 2 wins for the season.
Redb
Roar Guru
The Edwards v McLeod antipathy seems to have spread to the wider playing group and club at the Crows. 320 games and no send off - that's a shocker. In a poor year, giving champions of the club a proper send off offers suffering fans something at least. This type of thing tears at a club's soul from a fan perspective. New direction, new coach required.
James
Guest
Problem for the Crows is they've never been really tested as a club. Seems like finally the wheels are falling off.