Adelaide midfielder Richard Douglas says ‘outside noise’ can help Crows rebound

ADELAIDE veteran Richard Douglas — who has signed on for a 14th season at the Crows — is not concerned about widespread reports of player unrest, instead focusing on the sputtering season and the club’s crucial clash against Hawthorn on Saturday night.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 03: Richard Douglas of the Adelaide Crows celebrates a goal with Tom Lynch of the Adelaide Crows during the round 11 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Adelaide Oval on June 3, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

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ADELAIDE midfielder Richard Douglas says the wave of adversity sweeping over the Crows have the potential to be a spark as the club seeks to revive its season.

Douglas, who yesterday signed a one-year contract extension that keeps him at the club for a 14th season, said the players had moved on from the contentious pre-season camp and that injuries would not hold up as an excuse.

There has also been speculation in the industry that there are players — including the contracted Mitch McGovern and Eddie Betts — who want out of the club.

But Douglas, who is having another fine season, said the reports from outside could only affect the team in a positive manner.

“It’s obviously a challenge (to block it out),” Douglas said. “Each year the noise tends to be a bit louder and louder.

“But for us it’s all about staying tight as a group.

“When your faced with adversity it tends to bring out the best in you and we need to stick together.

“We’ve got some really good quality people at the footy club … it’s about sticking together and getting through it together and hopefully there’s a win around the corner.”

The Crows have slipped out of the eight after three straight losses and are now on a 6-6 record.

Richard Douglas celebrates a goal during Showdown 44. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

But Douglas intimated it was still realistic for the club to plan for finals.

Beating Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday night would be an enormous boost towards that goal.

“There’s still a lot to achieve for the year,” he said. “We certainly haven’t given up on the year.

“We’re really excited about this week’s challenge, getting to the bye and re-set and get going again for the back half of the year.

“We still feel (that) at our best footy we’re as good as anyone.”

But Douglas was not as keen to delve further into the club’s controversial Collective Minds program, which has come under scrutiny for pushing the players mentally.

The club has conceded some mistakes had been made, in particularly in relation to upsetting the Crows’ indigenous players.

“You guys (the press) like talking about it, we don’t,” Douglas said. “We’ve moved on as a footy club.

“We had the camp, it was a really positive experience for most guys.

“There were a few little issues that came out of camp, we dealt with it, we move on.

“They (Collective Mind) are still a part footy program and we’ll continue to work with that and get the rewards from that.”

Douglas’ contract extension comes as he is having another fine season.

For the first time in his career he is averaging more than a goal a game, which is even more impressive because he has been the fix-it man who has gone to spots all over the ground as the Crows have struggled with a long list of injuries.

Douglas, who was drafted at No. 16 in the 2005 national draft from Victoria, said staying in Adelaide had been an easy decision.

“I’ve always said being a one-club player is something that would be pretty special to me,” Douglas said. “We’ve got a highly determined playing and coaching group who are driven towards achieving the ultimate success.

“I still feel I’ve got some good footy ahead of me and to be able to continue playing at the club I’ve called home for more than a decade is great.”

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