Mark Ricciuto did nothing wrong by critiquing former Crows, and his honesty should be praised – not slammed
The Adelaide Crows have been criticised for their lack of transparency in the past. Why then has football director Mark Ricciuto been slammed for his honesty, writes Graham Cornes.
Graham Cornes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Graham Cornes. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Ricciuto defends ‘deluded’ critique of ex-Crows
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Thank you, Roo. The last thing I thought of when Mark Ricciuto was explaining why different players had left the Crows was that he was in any way out of line.
On the contrary, it gave much greater insight as to why.
Not for a minute was there a consideration that there had been a breach of trust or confidentiality.
The figures had been bandied around anyway.
We all knew that Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern had gone for a lot more money.
They were promised salaries that responsible list management could not countenance.
Then there were older players, Hugh Greenwood and Alex Keath, who had not played a lot of football, but were offered longer contracts and more money.
Given the Crows’ intention was to give younger players more opportunity, it made no sense to match those contracts.
There was also the insight to Josh Jenkins’ departure.
Without actually saying it, the club seemed relieved to see him go.
They are actually paying some of his salary at Geelong, as they are with Eddie Betts at Carlton.
We know now because Roo told us.
It seems contradictory, but even paying some of Jenkins’ and Betts’ salaries, gives the Crows much needed salary cap relief.
Jenkins’ salary at the Crows had pretty much been common knowledge anyway and obviously he had worn out his welcome.
There appears to be no love lost there.
However, the criticism now being hurled at Ricciuto seems so hypocritical.
How often are the Crows lambasted for a perceived lack of transparency?
A secretive, selective “boys club”, the critics say. What does that term, “boys club”, mean anyway?
However, when one of the insiders gives an open, honest explanation as to why particular players have left the club, he is immediately pilloried by the very same people who have criticised the club for a “lack of transparency”.
The true Crows fans appreciate the honesty and more importantly, the insight.
Every year, the media and the fans speculate wildly about salaries and player contracts.
The AFL put out a list of how many players fit into a certain salary bracket.
However, it’s only a list of numbers not names, leaving everyone else to speculate who the million dollar players are.
Just as interesting are those players who earn over $800,000, some of who fail to justify their hefty contracts.
MORE CROWS NEWS
AFL 2020: Wayne Carey slams Mark Ricciuto critics after Adelaide Crows furore
AFL: Mark Ricciuto slammed for detailing why Adelaide Crows lost players
Suns hard nut Hugh Greenwood responds to Mark Ricciuto after big win over his former club
It would be much simpler and open if we followed the American system where professional sports people’s salaries are made public.
It makes sense.
Not only does it eliminate wild speculation, it drastically reduces the power and influence of the player agents, some of who create more mischief than they should.
I was once sent on a study tour to, among other organisations, the New York Giants’ NFL team.
I was staggered by the openness of their general manager, George Young, a bear of a man who would later be inducted (posthumously) into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He willingly pulled copies of players’ contracts from his files and spread them on the desk for me to peruse.
I suspect he was a hard man to deal with as he made the comment that he had some difficulty negotiating with an athlete whose “second car was a Mercedes Benz”.
However, he had no hesitation telling the world what they earned.
Don’t tell me Australian rules football isn’t ready for such insight.
Of course, the real problem at West Lakes at the moment is not Mark Ricciuto’s candour, it’s the team’s form.
Winning solves everything and while the team is performing so badly, the criticism will continue to flow. Look across the road to Alberton.
Where are all of Ken Hinkley’s critics at the moment? That Facebook page calling for his sacking? Is that still up and running?
The Crows are performing terribly and the critics are having a field day.
Even Malcolm Blight, who must know more than anyone the corrosive nature of criticism from within, has labelled Matthew Nicks’s game plan “rubbish”.
So what can Matthew Nicks do? Blighty is upset that Nicks is focusing on a defence-first game plan.
Both football philosophies are valid, however great teams are built first on defence.
It’s the foundation of any successful team, but interwoven with that defence-first mentality should be the instinct to attack, to go forward and to outscore your opponent.
Trying not to lose is the worst possible obstacle to succeeding.
Nevertheless, on top of Andrew McLeod’s attacks on the club, Blighty could have been a little more circumspect in his criticism.
How does a coach and his team recover from the worst Showdown loss in the Crows’ history?
Well some context would help. It was nowhere near the Crows’ worst loss.
They were beaten at the Gabba by 141 points in 2004.
It’s not even the Crows’ worst loss at home.
That ignominy belongs to the coach and team who were beaten by Hawthorn by 97 points at Football Park in 1994.
Incidentally neither of those losses compare to Port’s 165 point thrashing at the hands of Hawthorn in 2011. 165 points!
Not to mention that number 119.
Nicks’s task this week needs to be simplified: show the vision, damning as it might be; learn the lessons; demand that the players accept accountability and responsibility; emphasise the positives, however few there may be; and embrace the next contest.
Admittedly it was the beginning of the end for some of us, but that team that was thrashed so badly in round nine, 1994 did beat Fitzroy by 39 points the following week.
This weekend is a brand-new ball game even if the Gold Coast looks a much stronger team.
Only a win will silence the critics.
It will definitely get the hounds of Mark Ricciuto’s back whose only crime this week has been his honesty. Go figure!