Crows Chairman Rob Chapman responds to questions about the Crows’ pre-season training camp
READ the full Q&A with Crows chairman Rob Chapman and The Advertiser chief sports reporter Reece Homfray after the AFL’s integrity unit investigation into its pre-season mind training camp.
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- Collective Mind washes hands of camp
- Analysis: Mind game that keeps tormenting Crows
REECE HOMFRAY’S Q&A WITH CROWS CHAIRMAN ROB CHAPMAN AFTER THE AFL’S INVESTIGATION INTO ITS PRE-SEASON TRAINING CAMP:
You have accepted the findings of the AFL integrity unit’s investigation?
“That’s why we asked the AFL to conduct the comprehensive review of the camp, all of the rumours and information surrounding it, because it seemed like more than several months we were reacting to comments and reached the conclusion that people were believing what they wanted to believe.
“We thought the AFL need to fully and comprehensively review what went on and they had many conversations with participants that were on the camp, and their conclusions are consistent with what the Adelaide Football Club and the leaders have been saying virtually from the first time we were asked.
“We knew we’d made some errors, there were some regrets, that it made some people uncomfortable and we were sorry about that. Don, Andrew, myself, Brett Burton have said that consistently from day one.
Were players and staff interviewed as part of the integrity unit investigation?
“Yes, absolutely. I’m not sure who and how many but I’m told it was many conversations with many of the participants.”
What were the oversights the club refers to in its statement regarding the camp?
“The briefings that went on prior to the camp could have been more exhausting and more thoughtful, the debriefings from the camp could have been more comprehensive.
“You can’t over-communicate is something I say often and I don’t think we did a good enough job of explaining and putting into context what we were trying to do to players, partners of players, even on the camp, we knew there would be a level of intensity around conversations taking place.
“From what was let’s face it, a good relationship with Collective Mind in 2017 and they assisted us with a lot of things, poise, being in the moment, mindfulness, and we escalated that on the camp, and we should have been more aware of the potential for aggravation and aware that players might not react the way we thought.
“We probably weren’t as prepared as we should have and that’s what the AFL is saying to us and all clubs.
“What we did on the camp is another element, it was an escalation of intensity, we were in a trusting and confidential environment so it would be unfair to detail exactly what went on, but there are some regrets over some of the discussions that took place and if that made some players and coaches feel uncomfortable well that was never our intention and for that we’ve got to face up to it and should never have allowed it to occur.”
Could your club have addressed these issues sooner so you are not still talking about the camp in October?
“In hindsight yes, but to be fair, we were reacting to and saying some of the rumours weren’t true, and the review has found it wasn’t true, but that’s why we needed the AFL to do the review because they will believe the AFL.
“But we did do some things that should have been done better and that’s a regret of ours.”
Was the partnership with Collective Mind terminated earlier in the year then brought back against players’ wishes?
“That’s not correct. The relationship with Collective Mind was terminated by us, but basically mutually agreed because it wasn’t working, at the bye round (in June). Months earlier some players wanted to continue with the program and others clearly didn’t. Some did on an individual basis but many of the players didn’t see Collective Mind post-camp.
“We never want to put our players at risk, their health and wellbeing is at the forefront of what we do, and clearly the relationship with them wasn’t making people feel that way so once we fully realised that we terminated it.”
Did the board sign off on the camp beforehand?
“No. Going forward I think given what’s happened that’s just another layer of governance that’s going to occur any time we engage third party people to work within our football club. At that stage the organising of the camp which has been done thousands of times was not a board issue, it was a management issue.”
Was there a medical report from club doctor Mark Cesana about the camp and was that seen by the AFL or the integrity unit’s investigation?
“I’m not fully aware of who the AFL spoke to but I am quite confident they did. The AFL were well aware of everything that occurred on there and did a lengthy and comprehensive review. You can have a written report and then a discussion with the author of that report to get a much better feel for what was behind the written word, so therefore it would have been important that the AFL did speak to the doctor.”
Did Josh Francou put in writing his concerns about the camp or mind training and was it a factor in his decision to leave the club?
“I have never seen anything in writing from Josh, I’ve never had a discussion with Josh about the camp, and to the best of my knowledge I know of no written communication to that extent.”
Did the club pay out the contract with Collective Mind?
“Not to my knowledge. That hasn’t been presented to me.”
Do you think there will be lingering issues or does this investigation put a full stop on the situation?
“Clearly I’m hoping it does (end it), there will be a variety of people who will want to talk about it … the more we came out and denied those rumours the more they grew in stature. I think it does (end it), I know our boys and players are very excited about next year and plenty of good discussions have occurred leading up to the end of the season. For my part this is the end but that will be up to others.”
Did any parents of players contact the club to express concerns or ask questions?
“I had no parent talk to me specifically about any concerns they had about the camp. Conversely I had at least a couple of parents say how positive the camp was for their son.”
Was there a point where players felt their privacy had been breached or they’d shared too much?
“I think that is accurate. We worked with Collective Mind in 2017 around positive reinforcement, we wanted to improve, we escalated the level of intensity on the camp and players did reveal during that process and even on reflection that some of the things they revealed made them feel uncomfortable, and that should never be the case and that is a regret that I have.”
Mark Williams said on radio that he’d heard players had been tied up nude on the camp?
“For me that was the tipping point. When I heard those allegations made I rang Andrew (Fagan) and said we need to bring this to a conclusion and had a discussion with the AFL and hence this review escalated.
“It started out ‘people were blindfolded’, then ‘people were tied up’ then you deny the first and the second and then ‘they were tied up naked’, now can you just imagine a parent hearing that, a partner hearing that, imagine how Don felt hearing that when you know it is complete and utter rubbish.
“That was the tipping point for me. I take very, very seriously the mental and physical wellbeing of our men and women and we have a duty of care to them, and that (tied up naked) didn’t occur.”
Why did Don Pyke say mid-year that the Richmond club song was played, and Collective Mind said it wasn’t. Was that different interpretations?
“Yes it was, and that doesn’t help. I can now put myself in the shoes of reporters and your readers and our fans. A verse of the song was played is my understanding so therefore it was played. Then one said it was, one said it wasn’t, it’s a technicality, but Don’s version of that story is the accurate one.”
There were reports that Sam Jacobs was particularly distressed over what was said or how he was treated, can you clarify that situation?
“All of that has been put to me. All I know is I’ve had more than several discussions with Sam who is just a quality individual, he was more worried about people worrying about him, because he wasn’t worried. Again there were lots of rumours put forward by varying individuals that were simply untrue. I am comfortable with the situation. Now that said as much as this report says we didn’t breach any rules or protocols, we know we could have and should have done things better and we’ll learn from that to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Was the camp the reason you didn’t play finals?
“There is no one reason, the camp was (a) reason let’s not back away from it, but not having enough of our good players on the park, not having them on the park for long enough was also a significant reason.
“We have reviewed all of that, I’d like our fans to be assured there are plenty of learnings to come from it and changes we will make.”