The last 48 hours has been a tumultuous time for the Adelaide Football Club, however it has performed impeccably on all fronts.
From chairman Rob Chapman’s obvious emotion in the club’s first press conference following Phil Walsh’s death, to the shrine laid by at West Lakes Adelaide fans, the club has shown incredible resilience.
It is befitting of an authentic club that is so much more than the business the AFL has become.
The way the club has made football a secondary concern and offered nothing but support to the players as they reacted in different ways was brilliant. Perhaps more importantly the contact the club made with players on Saturday, checking that they were OK and reminding them of the counselling services available, which are understandably very important to the healing process.
The messages and symbols of support shown by members and supporters, who are well and truly a part of the club, have been heartfelt, not to mention the external tributes.
Another supporter initiative, the #putyourscarfsout social media campaign, has been a small, but meaningful action similar to the putting out of cricket bats following the death of Phillip Hughes in 2014. It has also shown the respect and sadness felt by the wider community.
Captain Taylor Walker’s words in a club video on Saturday where he spoke of the grief in the club was fantastic, as it connected the fans to the face of the club.
Now, in the coming days, issues about the club’s destiny this year will come to light regarding coaching, training and preparing for their AFL match next Saturday night.
The Adelaide Football Club are facing something that is difficult to handle on so many levels. Firstly, the death of the senior coach which, needless to say, would be extremely damaging. However, unlike the death of Dean Bailey, Walsh’s death has taken place in the middle of the season which causes major and obvious problems regarding how the players go on.
Another key difference has been the unprecedented media attention of the death of a senior coach and the shocking and horrific circumstances. The way the club has ‘wrapped its arms around’ the players and protected them from the media has been most admirable.
Taylor Walker’s video message on Saturday also served as an update for the media and ensured that they didn’t begin to pry. It was essentially a way of addressing the media and the fans without causing any direct contact, which is not desirable at this point. Whether this was intended or not is irrelevant as it was certainly effective.
The various support offered by the Adelaide Football Club family seems obvious in hindsight, however given the importance of the first 48 hours when dealing with death, it has been a remarkable effort by the club to get virtually everything right.
This comes despite many of the decisions about the club’s reaction being made quickly and by grief stricken executives.
And as we have watched the shockwaves of this tragedy spread across Australia, the Crows have remained a magnificent pillar of stability and top management. They have got their priorities in perfect order and have made every effort to achieve them – disregarding the impact of the cancellation of the Geelong match.
What this means for their next match against West Coast is an unknown. Likewise is the rest of the season, with the Crows in finals contention, and possibly beyond. It would be a stunning effort to make the finals from here, but I have no expectations nor do I put any limitations on the team.
Will this catastrophe bring the players together to play their best football or will their grief be long lasting and damaging to their game? Either outcome would be equally understandable.
Nonetheless, it is moments like this that strong clubs stand out. The Adelaide Crows have shown themselves to be a club worthy of the name, with character that has been tested and has not only survived, but flourished.
Right now is my most satisfying moment as a member of the Adelaide Football Club, and every time I don the guernsey I will wear it with a new found honour and admiration for the way the club has conducted itself.
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