Adelaide says no players were presented with post-season surveys undermining Don Pyke
Key players at Adelaide have ‘categorically denied’ the existence of a loaded player survey plot to weaken Don Pyke but remain upset by ongoing internal leaks and external attacks.
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Adelaide categorically denies the existence of any player questionnaire inciting negative feedback against coach Don Pyke.
Board director Mark Ricciuto insists reports suggesting an end-of-season questionnaire was distributed to players are false.
Ricciuto confirmed “no survey was given to players at the end of the year” but is more concerned by any assertion that “questions were framed to get an outcome” around Pyke.
Ricciuto represents Adelaide’s heart and soul — recruited aged 16 in 1992, a premiership player, skipper and now board member.
Ricciuto headhunted Pyke to replace the late Phil Walsh as coach after Scott Camporeale filled the interim senior role in late 2015. That Ricciuto would approve or be aware of a questionnaire targeting Pyke or pre-empting the head mentor’s exit is hurtful to the 2003 Brownlow Medallist.
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Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker told Triple M on Tuesday “it was categorically incorrect” to suggest players were presented with post-season surveys.
The Crows released a statement to The Advertiser reiterating “there was no survey or questionnaire distributed to players during the last round of exit interviews.”
Dual Crows premiership skipper Mark Bickley has called on fans — tired of mediocre results and perceived remote leadership — to “take a deep breath” while internal and external reviews unfold.
However, the club hierarchy is being undermined by internal leaks and disgruntled forces as on-field failure and pending list overhaul bite at West Lakes.
The emotional buy-in and bond that united the Crows in the dark days following Walsh’s passing has dissolved. Imminent departures of several players/staff this off-season has set the scene for a rare airing of dirty laundry that the club can’t control.
Adelaide has unravelled since its 2017 grand final loss, troubled 2018 Gold Coast pre-season camp and consecutive finals misses.
Some players are understood to be uncomfortable at contributing to an external review conducted by heavyweight Hawthorn figure Jason Dunstall and Matthew Pavlich — both Fox Footy experts with Ricciuto.
Respected Sydney premiership boss Paul Roos maintains it will be “tough” for Dunstall to put name his name to culling any key figures including chief executive Andrew Fagan, head of football Brett Burton, strategy coach Scott Camporeale or Ricciuto as part of his external club review.
Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman can validly counter-argue there are few football luminaries who don’t fill multiple industry roles.
Dunstall, who set up Hawthorn’s dynasty in appointing Alastair Clarkson as head coach, is a smart operator with unquestioned integrity.
Former coach Brenton Sanderson was shown the door after Adelaide finished 11th and 10th through 2013-14. Adelaide has sunk to 12th and 11th since Pyke steered the club to 2017’s grand final.
Adelaide’s football department faces a revamp regardless of its dual off-season reviews.
But Adelaide’s internal haemorrhaging makes it more likely coach Pyke — a successful, wealthy businessman and premiership star at West Coast — could walk despite two years remaining on his contract.