Some high-profile players have exited the Crows in recent years, including Kurt Tippet (Sydney Swans) and Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats).
In the past few days it has officially been made public that Jake Lever intends to move home to the Melbourne Demons, and Charlie Cameron wants to return home to Brisbane.
So why do players leave the Crows?
Why indeed? Adelaide is a great club. They have a new 50,000 capacity stadium at the Adelaide Oval. High membership. Passionate fan-base. Strong culture. Minor premiers. Grand finalists.
Part of the lure to play for Adelaide is the club’s record of accomplishment in developing players skills and abilities. If a player joins the Crows, they seem to become better players. This is true at the Hawks, the Swans, and many other clubs also.
So why leave? AFL radio put this question to the now former Crows assistant coach David Teague. Teague is returning home for family reasons to Melbourne. He has taken up a position with the Carlton Blues.
To the why leave question, Teague said “It is an interesting one because they get along well, they care for each other and what the group’s been through together has been quite phenomenal. Yet players continue to leave. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it.”
And therein lies a big part of the problem. Just like Teague, many Crows were not born in Adelaide. They were not bred in Adelaide. They have no family ties to Adelaide. Eventually after a few years, they have advanced their skills and experience as a player, done their time and they desire to return home. Add to this the fortunes to now be had in the AFL, and the decision to move is an easy one.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
One of the critical flaws of the AFL draft system is players do not play for their state of origin club or the club they supported growing up. Dangerfield is perhaps the best example of this.
Danger supported the Cats as a boy and perfected his craft at the Crows. But he always wanted to play for Geelong. Yes Dangerfield left Adelaide, but he also moved home to Geelong and now plays for the team which was always in his heart of hearts.
Now take Mr Richmond Tiger himself, Matthew Richardson. Richo supported the Tigers as a boy. Played for the Tigers. Wept with tears of emotion when the Tigers won the MCG Premiership.
This is the destination the AFL needs to get to. More players like Richardson and Dangerfield who have a genuine attraction and desire to play for their real club. Problem is these players are the exception and not the rule.
So where does the AFL start?
To be fair on the AFL, it is the interstate teams who should right now be taking the initiative and lead on this issue. After the trade week is done and dusted, most fans would love to hear the interstate club captains, CEOs and staff sitting around a table thrashing out a workable and equitable State of Origin draft system to take to the AFL.
This proposal could be based on a state based system where you can only draft players from your State of Origin zone. The State based draft/trade zones would include:
1. Queensland-NT Draft (Brisbane Lions / Gold Coast Suns).
2. NSW/ACT Draft (Sydney / GWS)
3. South Australian Draft (Crows/Port)
4. Western Australia Draft (Fremantle/West Coast)
5. Tasmanian Draft (Hawthorn or North Melbourne)
6. Victorian Draft (Victorian Clubs + Lions / Gold Coast Suns / GWS / Sydney / Tasmania).
The system would use overflow. If Queensland (a rugby heartland state) are unable to provide players of sufficient quality from the Queensland-NT draft, they would draft from Victoria. To a lesser extent, NSW-ACT may also need to draw from the Victorian Draft.
In this age of technology with the budget of the AFL, I’m sure some clever computer gadgetry can be used to make this fair for all states and clubs.
(Images: AFL)
Next, Western Australia and South Australia, could these states produce champion teams using the talent on offer in the WAFL and SANFL? I say they probably could, so overflow most likely not needed for WA and SA. If you agree or disagree, please comment below and explain why.
Tasmania also need a representative club that the state supports. Based on 10,000 Tasmanian members, Jeff Kennett has a strong case, the Hawks seem to be the obvious choice.
Now I know what you are about to say and you are right. There will be obstacles. A player from Perth, wants to play for a Victorian team. Or, a team is struggling and needs help in the draft outside their state zone. I agree and I’m sure the collective brains of the AFL clubs can set up special allowances for such scenarios and figure things out.
There is a problem though, players will still get dramatically overpaid and enticed away from clubs who have invested time, effort, club secrets and faith in that player.
So, in addition to a salary cap for the team, a minimum and maximum salary cap for individual players is needed.
Then the silly season might not be so silly.
And heaven forbid, we might just see players representing the team they’ve loved since they first laced up a pair of footy boots.
Aransan
Guest
Julie, it is a little more complicated than that. Refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Gibbs_(Australian_rules_footballer) "Speculation that Gibbs would be the No. 1 draft pick began early in the 2006 season. Although his father Ross Gibbs had a 253-game career with Glenelg, Bryce was ineligible to be taken by the Adelaide Crows under the Father-Son Rule, much to the Crows' chagrin, because Ross had not yet played 200 of those games before the Crows entered the Australian Football League in 1991." The difficulty is that Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast, and Fremantle only have a limited history compared with the Victorian clubs. Sydney can draw on sons of South Melbourne players, Brisbane can draw on sons of Fitzroy players and presumably the academy system gives something to Gold Coast and GWS. Father sons of historical clubs require their fathers to have played 100 games and the son has to nominate the club. Adelaide appear to have been disadvantaged as they still haven't had a father son.
Julie
Guest
The other comment I have relates to a considered bias. I have recently found out that Rory Sloane's manager has been appointed/employed by Collingwood Football Club. I would have thought there was a conflict of interest in his role as a player manager - Any thoughts anyone?
Julie
Guest
Im sorry I didnt see this thread until now. After seeing what happened at the 2017 draft I now know what strategy my Crows are doing. They have ONLY drafted South Australians. There will be no go home scenario. The other comment I have relates to the father son rules. Victorian footballers "Fathers" only had to play 150 games for the son to be considered under that rule. For all non Victorian Clubs that rule was increased to 200 games for the father. If Adelaide had that same 150 game rule Bryce Gibbs would have been an Adelaide player - not forced to go and play in Melbourne for Carlton. The AFL is NOT "A" its "V".
Peterred
Guest
Villis Pies and another company paid Kurt Don't blame him they wanted him so others paid his top up.. So would you take the payment
Peterred
Guest
Its been called Sadlaide as long as I can remember.. Its behind its boring go live on the north shore of Sydney Then comment. Or Melbourne or the Gold coast.. West lakes I worked doing Brush fences in between fishing seasons and it aint changed and that's was in 77. Hindley streets is a blast lolo oh the excitement
Daz
Roar Pro
Actually I think you're on point here. It's been said a fair bit around the Roar lately that Port doesn't have the same problem with wantaway players that Adelaide does. Could it be that if you're in South Australia you support the Crows unless you're a Port Magpies supporter. That means so many more people support the Crows than the Power. That means 80-90% of the parochial SA media scrutiny is on the Crows and not the Power. It increased the fishbowl at the Crows, and the Power are left alone more. That, and there are always going to be X number of players who want to change clubs regardless of the reason. Being from interstate simply provides another option when coming up with an excuse.
Reg1
Guest
Unlike Perth, at least Adelaide pubs stay open past 12am and they can handle their fading curtains with DST. Perth is way more backwards than Adelaide for stuff.
I ate pies
Guest
Nope. I grew up in Vic but I haven't lived there for 15 years. I've also lived in Adelaide for a period as well.
Tommo
Guest
Kurt Tippet brought the clubs reputation down with his under cover payments. Glad to get rid of him.
kick to kick
Guest
The treatment of Jake Lever post his decision to seek a trade seems to speak volumes about why players leave and why Adelaide has a reputation as one of the most difficult clubs to deal with at trade time. The Crows wear a tribalism that is a mix of insecurity and entitlement. I was sympathetic to the Crows climb from adversity in 2017 and as a neutral supported them in the grand final. The news that Lever has been abused and disinvited from the best and fairest presentation has changed my view. He's a professional athlete entitled to seek his way in the world and the Crows response has been anything but professional. Narrow tribalism is not professional team spirit and I'm inclined to think that it wilted on Grand Final day away from Adelaide Oval and a stadium full of delirious fans. The Lever episode tells me that Adelaide will never win a grand final without a change of culture ... and that more non South Australian draftees will also desert the club in the future.
jonboy
Guest
West Aust.plenty sunshine fresh air ,Melbourne cold,bleak,dark,congested hole of a place by a a long way the worst in Aussie, All those people jammed in that little corner,
Fairsuckofthesav
Guest
Rory was a pick in the 40s FreoAs. All the Vic clubs had a chance to recruit him.
mcmanpp
Roar Rookie
I don’t think it’s ever one thing; the reasons why players want to leave a club (not just the Crows) vary as much as the position they play (and whether players of their ilk are in demand or not), the stage they’re at in their professional career, what’s happening in their personal and private lives, and factors beyond their control, such as whether the club wants to keep them and is giving them hints their future is not good staying there. But if we’re talking about the Adelaide Crows specifically, you have to ask about the culture at the club, especially after reports recently in relation to Lever, that (a) several senior players went to the coaches and asked he not be selected to play, and (b) club management told Lever not to attend the club B&F. Personally, I think there’e something seriously wrong with players lobbying the coach over team selection; if the players think their team mate is a dickhead, the issue should be addressed by the player group. And matters have got seriously out of hand if a club can’t be both civil and professional enough to say goodbye eye to eye. (My reading of the B&F issue is that a bad case of insular Adelaiditis fan disease has spread to the players. I hope instead it’s a case of being in the dumps still after that less than impressive GF performance, and the break will set them back on track.)
Freo As
Guest
Sydney had a huge exit rate. Then they brought in COLA. Wait till that wears off.
Anthony
Roar Pro
Problem is though Steve, Queensland have an academy of sport, but grass roots development gets yanked away from the Lions. Tippet was born in Sydney. Went to school on the Gold Coast. Was in the QLD academy of sports. Played for the GC sharks.You would have thought he would be a Lions player at the time. Instead... Tippet was drafted to Adelaide in 2007, and wasn't drafted to the Lions. Tippet then left Adelaide in 2013 for Sydney. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Tippett#The_2012_trade_controversy Point is, QLD invested him in him through academy, no reward for Lions. Need a ring fence around these players so they draft to Lions/Suns. Sure there can be exceptions. Doesn't have to be a draconian ruling either. Let player movement flourish. But give clubs genuine locals also!
Anthony
Roar Pro
Good points. Another option might be a like for like trade rule. You want Lever, you must give up a player of equal ability in present terms, not future terms. That said, I still want AFL to be as much as a genuine competition as possible. I get free movement, but again as a fan I don't want to watch my team with 80% mercenaries. Perhaps 70% local talent target per team would be a fair expectation?
Anthony
Roar Pro
Really want to get to Perth Stadium!
Anthony
Roar Pro
Some of the best Stadiums in Australia I've been to for massive games are; - MCG - home of AFL (and 1956 Olympics) - Lang Park - home of State of Origin (and Reds) - Stadium Australia - home of NRL Grand Final (and 2000 Olympics) The list goes on... but the two recent additions are; - Adelaide Oval (2014) - Perth Stadium (2018) For mine, if I'm in ANY of those cities, I'm 100% trying to get to a game. So next time you are at the airport, I'd encourage you to see more than the airport and experience the state of the art stadiums! Good thing in Oz, after footy their is cricket.
Anthony
Roar Pro
Star and a flag for the academy system idea Matto. Whoever develops the talent, that team/city reaps the rewards. Just need to be careful with 'scholarships'. System could be gamed and corrupted by rich clubs/associated schools as they recruit players at young ages from poorer clubs/associated schools. That is part of the reason, I came to the conclusion that ring fencing based on state of origin would work. And the 6 state zones suggestion does not have to be definitive. Could be 5 zones; 1. QLD-NT 2. NSW 3. Tasmania 4. WA-SA 5. Melbourne. In this variation, WA+SA form a collective zone due to both being 'small town' cities in comparison to Sydney/Melbourne. SA (1.2 million population) would pick some overflow drafts from WA (1.67 million). Another variation is 3 zones; 1. QLD-NT 2. WA-SA 3. Melbourne/NSW/Tasmania. I know as a QLD we are parochial, we want as many of the local boys given a chance as possible to play for Lions/Suns.
Anthony
Roar Pro
This is the sort of things that needs to be looked at.