Crows to play hard ball on Mitch McGovern, says Don Pyke

Until a player or players confirm a bulling or otherwise unhealthy culture, all these comments about it are without logic or merit. Tex should stay, but not remain captain, for his own future playing performance. There is no reason to lose faith in Pike.

Claiming typographical errors as an excuse for poor grammar is dishonest or dilusional.

On the contrary Ditto. Mr Toad has proven to be both articulate and insightful in his most welcome Roar comments. I suggest you are finding his terse findings on your club a little too close to the bone.

Are you making fun of my typos? Its hard to typo when you have short little arms barley long enough to reach around my body and also have to allow for webbed fingers. I wish the Ror's new comments system let me correct you typing.

Fat toad. I think maybe you are some sort of lunatic. Please see a medical professional. You need help.

Based on their recent history these draft gems will be looking for a better environment in a couple of years.

Tex isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and Pyke has just had an epic fail on all fronts in 2018. I'd be clearing them both out.

Well, I suppose that if you have nothing constructive to say, you can always make your point with an 'ad hom' attack.

Firstly, your comments about Level may indicate a response to a bullying culture further to this, these sort of arguments are rolled out to justify what happened as though Lever deserved all he got. That is vengeful and closely linked to bullying in its self. Evidence: Walker boasted that he wanted to give some feed back to Lever, which was clearly made with the sub-text that that talk was not about making the club a better place (which is the purpose of an exit interview), but so Walker indulge himself and abuse Lever. Walker also contacted the rest of the squad and arranged for Lever to be ostracised during the finals to the point where Lever had no one sitting with him at the airport during travel: he looks pretty isolated and unhappy in the photos. Normal practice is for exiting players to farewell team mates a team meeting and to give their reasons for moving on. Lever did not get the chance to explain and called each person individually to discuss it, only about half the team took his call. A number of those you did felt they had been misled after talking and wished him well. Lever's exist interview with Pyke and the Manager of the football department Brett Burton degenerated to abuse and aggression (bullying). Other commentators at the time described the Crows' behaviour as childish. (There are plenty of articles and commentary still up on the various news sites, check them out!) This year, Pike described the environment as one of the reasons McGovern gave for wanting to leave. Public comments by Walker suggest that he wanted to discuss it with McGovern but McGovern was described as keen to avoid any meeting with him! Walker also has a history of foolish and tempramental behavior at times being suspented or fined when his club needed better from him. While he can be a game breaker, I view him as a net liability for the Crows. Whatever the situation or culture at the Crows is, they seem to have a lot of trouble holding players. There is something about the club that makes people want to leave when they get a chance. Clearly, the leadership group is aware of this and have foolishly decided to address it by yelling louder at those around them rather than asking themselves what is going wrong with us?

Pyke should go ! - not sure about Tex though. In fact there is a history of getting into nutcase, behavioural 'science' programs at the Crows - i.e. Years ago Nigel Smart badly burning his feet, walking over red hot coals at (yet another) pre season camp to prove . . . something...

Not sure anyone would would want Walker. An absolute liability.

Adelaide have certainly been the winner out of the Charlie Cameron to Brisbane deal so far - they used number 12 to draft Darcy Fogarty. They will use the high pick(s) they receive in exchange for McGovern to draft another diamond (or as part of the swap for Lachie Neale).

PTS, you could be the guy that supplies the drugs, that position is obviously already filled at Collingwood. Everybody would get along great if they were all stoned hey Pete.

Rubbish. Where's the bullying? Lever said he was going to be a one club player. Then he was waiting for the new player's agreement. Denied he met with Melbourne. Boasted about the financial offer. Tex expressed his disappointment. Get your facts right before taking cheap shots at a club that certainly made mistakes this year with their preseason camp. But there is no evidence of bullying.

It's pretty much the line used last year with Charlie Cameron and Crows ended up with pick 12, when most thought it was way overs. This year the price will be set high and the club that pays the price will be happy they did, just like Brisbane.

If I was on the Crows board, I would be looking to sack Pyke and trade away Walker, as both don't seem suitable for their roles.

I thought that the Crows and Pike had just about made all the errors that they could on this but they are the gift that keeps giving! After looking back to the Jake Lever story and the roles of Walker and Pyke it shouldn't really surprise that they are either not clever enough to realise they earlier errors or that bullying is unacceptable in any work place. Coach to Draftee's Parent - Please send your son to us. We have a great club that will expose you child to bullying and intimidation from the captain and coach. What better values to learn in developing his path through life? What message would this send to parents of a kid in the draft? ….

That's a worry when a player says he has "environmental" reasons for leaving a club and then the coach publicly admits as much to the media. Pyke has backed himself into a corner here. The club is not the environment McGovern wants to be in, force him to stay at your own peril. Talk about 2018 being an annus horribilis for the Crows. This is a club in turmoil at the moment. A game away from the flag in 2017 and now in a leadership mess inside and outside the club. Pyke is struggling here.