Neil Craig quits, Bickley to coach Crows

Mark Bickley was appointed Adelaide’s caretaker coach on Monday after Neil Craig quit, saying to continue as coach would hurt the AFL club.

Craig ended his tenure as Adelaide’s longest serving coach after the Crows’ 103-point loss on Friday night to St Kilda.

Bickley, the captain of Adelaide’s two premiership sides in the late 1990s, was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.

The Crows are expected to make a pitch to another ex-captain Simon Goodwin, currently an assistant coach at Essendon, while also sounding out retired Sydney mentor Paul Roos.

West Coast assistant coach Scott Burns and Geelong assistant coach Brenton Sanderson have also been touted as possible replacements.

Craig stepped down, effective immediately, amid speculation he would have been sacked on Thursday night at a Crows board meeting.

“It’s time,” Craig said in a statement on Monday.

“To continue would hurt the club, given the negativity and distraction that my own role has become.

“We have clearly underperformed this year and, as senior coach, I take the responsibility for that.”

Adelaide have won just four games this year and are set to record their poorest season since joining the AFL in 1991.

Craig, 55, had coached Adelaide since round 14 of the 2004 season when his predecessor Gary Ayres was sacked.

Craig, a qualified sports scientist, was praised for his decision to quit by Crows chairman Rob Chapman.

“Neil has, as always, demonstrated enormous integrity in making this decision,” Chapman said in a statement.

“He has been true to his word that the club would come before his own career, and has made the call, as we expected he would.”

Chapman said Craig had made an “extraordinary contribution” to the Crows.

“He has led the way in bettering the culture of our football team and has driven standards and professionalism that has earned respect throughout the competition,” Chapman said.

“And he has been an incredible role model in terms of the respect he has shown for his club and the game generally.”

Craig took Adelaide to the finals in five of his six full seasons in charge but never contested a grand final – his best result was a third placing in 2006.

He coached Adelaide in 166 games for 92 wins and 74 losses, but won just nine games last year when missing the finals for the first time.

Craig’s contract was to expire at the end of the season but, in January, he was placed on to the club’s staff.

The move was designed to ensure Craig could remain with the club in some capacity when his coaching career ended, if both parties deemed it appropriate.

Craig will take an unspecified period of leave before both the club and he determine his future.

Bickley, who captained Adelaide to premierships in 1997 and 1998, had been an assistant coach to Craig since 2009.

Bickley will coach Adelaide in his own right for the first time on Sunday when the Crows, languishing in 14th position, meet local rivals Port Adelaide, currently last on the ladder.

Neil Craig’s AFL coaching career:

– Adelaide coach since round 14, 2004, replacing sacked Gary Ayres.
– 166 games: 92 wins and 74 losses.
– Five finals series in six full seasons as coach.
– Highest finish (full seasons only): 3rd in 2006.
– Lowest finish (full seasons only): 11th in 2010.
– Fitness coach to Malcolm Blight in 1997/98 when Adelaide won their two premierships.
– Assistant coach to Ayres from 2001 until mid-2004.