Adelaide’s botched pre-season camp ultimately cost Don Pyke his job but the ex-coach says the ill-fated Gold Coast trip can’t be blamed for the hapless Crows’ current on-field woes.
Having taken the club to the 2017 grand final, Pyke resigned at the end of the 2019 season when his position became untenable amidst the ongoing fallout from the controversial camp.
Following the heavy grand final loss to Richmond, Adelaide failed to make the finals in the next two seasons under Pyke and are bottom of the ladder with an 0-6 record under rookie coach Matthew Nicks.
The 2018 pre-season camp has been widely blamed for fracturing the playing group, with the extreme psychological methods employed still making headlines.
Pyke, who departed the club with football chief Brett Burton and assistant coach Scott Camporeale, admits there were problems with the camp that he subjected his players to.
But he won’t cop the blame for the Crows’ on-field fall from grace.
“I think it’s a long bow to draw,” Pyke told ABC Grandstand on Thursday night.
“I think the list at Adelaide is going through a transitional phase, there’s no question about that.
“We’ve seen that some players have left the club for various reasons.
“They’re starting to expose some of those (younger) guys to AFL footy and with that will go consistency.
“I think if you asked those guys some of them would go ‘Well, the performance now has nothing to do with what happened on a camp two-and-a-half years ago’.”
Nine Fairfax and NewsCorp have published damning exposes of the camp, run by leadership company Collective Mind, in recent weeks.
The club has also been lashed by two-time Norm Smith Medal winner and games record holder Andrew McLeod for its perceived poor culture.
Amidst a backlash over a player exodus since the grand final, McLeod’s premiership teammate and current board member Mark Ricciuto has been heavily criticised for revealing details of the departures of players like Mitch McGovern, Eddie Betts, Jake Lever and Alex Keath.
Nicks, who has been in the job for nine months, has been forced to defend his club’s culture in the ongoing aftermath of a camp that players continue to be asked about.
“It’s probably disappointing that it’s continuing to be discussed,” Pyke said.
“Clearly the club’s viewpoint is that they want to move on.
“I know that talking to some of the players who are still there they clearly want to leave that behind and focus on their footy going forward.
“I think it’s probably a conversation that’s due with the club about how they wish to address this once and for all.
“As I’ve said previously, the intention around that camp was very clear (but) the execution had some gaps and holes and some mistakes were made.
“That’s been addressed.
“But I think there’s also an issue at the moment with some context around some of the things that were done and the purpose behind those, which probably hasn’t been tabled.”
Pyke was not pressed on the specifics of the camp, which is alleged to have included the open use of highly-sensitive personal information of players.
The club was cleared of any serious rules breaches by the AFL integrity unit following an investigation that has also been criticised in some quarters.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
A "vague recollection" of that being said?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Actually l enjoy Pedro's contributions. They are usually well thought out. I don't agree with him on this issue but hey! He always plays the ball for mine.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Anything that encourages immoral or unethical conduct should not be trusted. For Pyke to be doubling down re his part in the fiasco is at best disingenuous and, at worst, flags him as venal.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
The quote that the Crows apparently aspire to achieve a culture where players are meant to be cool with a teammate sleeping with their wife is a new one.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Was happy with the 2 McGovern kicked last week
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
There is absolutely NOTHING new in that story, except for someone's "vague recollections"!!
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
The story in the Age comes directly from 6 players who attended the camp.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Everybody in the 2’s is getting paid 2-Dogs! PS: Eddie does average more than 2 goals per game in his career, but not at Carlton. For you mathematically challenged Victorians (must be the virus affecting your calculators) 9 goals in 5 games is not 2 goals a game. Victorian accounting? PSS: How is McGovern going over there? :stoked: :laughing: :stoked: PSSS: I’ve got a bridge …
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Enjoy footy loving as a hobby Pedro???? Hope your luck is better while fishing
2dogs
Roar Rookie
2 goals a game for a small forward??? Wouldn’t that be a good result? Glad your paying Gibbs to sit in the 2’s lmao
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Thanks for giving Adelaide $450K back into their salary cap for a has-been forward. I’d pay $50K for that. Carlton are paying $450K for a 1.8 goal forward (and that will head South). Well played :laughing:
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Thanks for paying his wages also. That’s ridiculously good for us
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Backtrack lol I gave an example. Eddie has nearly been best on ground in a couple of Carlton wins. Ridiculous isn’t it
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Some people make ridiculous statements and then back track when asked to justify them! Eddie Betts has 9 goals in 5 games. His career is over and he is restricting Carlton's 5 year rebuild (which is in its 8th year now) by keeping a kid out of the side. If Carlton wanted his experience then they should have engaged his as a forwards coach!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Ridiculous! Camporeale? If he had the goods he would be a Senior Coach by now. Same with Solomon!
Boo
Guest
I heard that too in Melbourne so it must be right.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
It was a great way to destroy the morale and culture of a club. Is Collective Minds still in business ? These so called team bonding and leadership camps have been a con for decades. Surprised that clubs and organisations still get sucked into them.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
What I mean is the condition he started with and ended with is pretty horrendous, the truth is they should’ve made either dean Solomon or Scott camporeale the head coach after phill Walsh’s timely passing
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Eddie Betts has been quiet I guess.... for a fisherman you sure can take it hook line and sinker... crickets are great bait
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Really? Charlie Cameron yes ... and ... ??? ... ??? ... crickets!