Changes are expected at the Crows and Power after they again failed to make finals
Both South Australian clubs have failed to make AFL finals for the second year in a row despite plenty of promise. And if Crows board member Mark Ricciuto’s comments on Sunday are any guide, both clubs could be in for some big changes.
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BOTH South Australian clubs have again failed to make finals, and big changes off-the-field could be in store.
For the first time in eight years the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide have missed out on finals football for consecutive years.
The Advertiser understands that the Crows and Power missing finals for the second year in a row, the first since 2010 and 2011, is set to result in some big changes at the clubs.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas is under increasing pressure at the club amid uncertainty over how long he will remain in the top job after last month releasing an extraordinary statement to members saying he had allowed the club to “drop the ball” and let it stray from what made it great.
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Membership has dropped by 4.5 per cent at Port, and this year the Power has recorded some of the lowest crowds at Adelaide Oval since the AFL clubs’ move.
The club is also coming under increasing financial pressure.
Port’s board met on Friday.
At West Lakes, the Crows are set to commence a wide-ranging review of their football department which has been confirmed by both senior coach Don Pyke and chairman Rob Chapman in the past week.
Following the Crows’ 34-point loss to the Bulldogs on Sunday board member Mark Ricciuto said the review needed to be wide-ranging.
“The list needs to change,” he said on Triple M.
“You need to have a look at everyone from the coach down and have a look at the whole football department.
“It needs a look from the inside and from the outside.”
Ricciuto said supporters needed to back the decision makers at the club, amid accusations that there is a boys club at the Crows.
“Whatever decision has to be made from top to bottom will be made for the betterment of the football club and the supporters should back our people in,” he said.
“And if they don’t well then maybe they don’t need to barrack for the footy club.”
Pyke said the review would be vital.
“We need to review for the footy department, what can we do different, what can we change up to allow us to get into a better space,” he said.
“We all have good ideas, players, coaches and high performance staff and we need to get all those ideas on the table and say right what direction are we going to go in.
“And when we decide that direction things will change.”