The controversy over the behaviour of the Adelaide Crows and its legendary midfielder Tyson Edwards has left egg on the face of both sides. Both have inflamed the situation and damaged their proud reputations.
Firstly, Tyson Edwards has brought about some of the events that have happened.
His decision to walk out on the club after being dropped was petty. He was not told his career was over, he just needed to get his form back in the SANFL before the club considered him for selection.
Edwards had the ability to get his form back, but he played the stroppy card and walked out. It is not good to be in a side that continually loses but walking out when the club is going through the worse period in its existence will not be remembered well.
He should be thankful that the fans thought he deserved better because if the fans agreed with Neil Craig it would have been all over and he would have been consigned to history.
However, the Adelaide Crows treatment of their superstar bordered on unethical. At best, Steven Trigg lacked leadership and Neil Craig lost his marbles. Every Adelaide fan knows Edwards was the club’s most underrated player in the glory years of 1997 and 1998.
321 games of service in a time where loyalty is questioned in sport, surely Edwards should be rewarded for his commitment. The fact that Trigg and Craig dismissed a farewell game so quickly for Edwards will hurt the club and its already low morale.
The fans deserved to farewell a champion and Edwards, who has given so much and been so underappreciated in the awards stakes, rightfully deserved a farewell without it being dismissed so quickly.
Still, in a messy breakup, no one comes off super clean.
Tyson Edwards deserved a chance to say goodbye and the Crows should have done better by him instead of the humiliating about face it endured. Edwards is a true champion and deserved better than he got.
However, Edwards should not escape condemnation for his actions. Walking out after being dropped is not the way he should have gone. Edwards was never told it was all over; he would have got a chance to earn his selection again.
Both are to blame and both will wear the effects of this in what has been a season from hell for both parties.
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