Former club champion Richard Douglas on the Adelaide Crows’ decision to sack Brett Burton and Scott Camporeale after ‘draining’ external review
Departing Adelaide Crow Richard Douglas has paid tribute to Brett Burton and Scott Camporeale who are the casualties of the club’s external review but says he wasn’t surprised by the decision to let them go.
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FORMER Crow Richard Douglas says he feels for Scott Camporeale and Brett Burton but wasn’t surprised by the club’s decision to let them go in the wake of a “draining” and “exhausting” external review that was completed this week.
Douglas finished up at Adelaide after 246 games this season but still formed part of the review and was interviewed by former Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich.
Speaking on Triple M’s Dead Set Legends program 24 hours after head of football Burton and senior assistant coach Camporeale were sacked, Douglas said the changes would give the club the clean air it needed.
“Unfortunately two men move aside to let the club go forward,” he said.
“I think when you do a full review and you’re head of football, your neck is probably on the line to be honest, so I wasn’t overly surprised.
“Bird has done a lot for the footy club and done the best he could, but the club is looking to move in a different direction.
“When you open yourself up to an external review, there is going to be change and that was probably the obvious one.
“I’m not sure who the club will get in that role and they’re going to have to move quite quickly because you don’t want to be losing players with all this uncertainty so hopefully early next week we’ll get some announcements.
“Where the club is at, they really need to start again and that starts at the top, now there is some fresh air there they can make some clear and honest decisions moving forward so I think it’s a good thing, tough on those individuals but it’s a cut throat industry.”
Douglas paid tribute to Camporeale who has been midfield and senior coach as well in his nine years at West Lakes.
“Campo was fantastic for me, nine years at the footy club and let’s not forget he did a great job when Phil (Walsh) passed, he stepped in and did some fantastic things and was a really good mentor,” he said.
“Us senior boys we love Campo and are forever indebted to what he did for the footy club, he will be a tough loss to replace because he is a wealth of experience and his midfield craft in particular was second to none so he will be a big loss.”
The 2010 club champion said he agreed the club’s culture was “fractured” following the 2017 grand final loss and welcomed the pending appointment of a new ‘head of leadership and culture’ at the Crows.
“I was excited when I read it. I think from 2017 the culture being fractured and to be galvanised is super important and someone who is really good in that role who can bring coaches, players and the whole football club together I think we’ll see some really good growth in the group next year.”
Douglas still hopes to play at AFL level next year but said he had no gripes against the club for not offering him another contract for next season.
“It’s time for the club to move in a new direction and I fully support that, we had our chance in 2017 and we weren’t quite good enough,” he said.
“We’ve had a re-build and it’s for the new kids to take the club forward which is very exciting for the fans out there.
“Full re-build, new head of football, new head coach coming in and we’ve got some exciting young talent so I think the club is heading in a good direction.”
The 32-year-old said he was an “outside chance” to be picked up by an AFL club but if not then he plans to play SANFL footy and develop his coaching interests.
“I’m right down the bottom of the pecking order for clubs, if there’s an opportunity out there I would love to continue playing footy at the highest level because you’re a long time retired,” he said.
“The on field playing coaching role a bit like what Brisbane is doing with Grant Birchall and Luke Hodge in the past, I think it works well with a young and inexperienced side, that would be something that would interest me and I feel I would add a lot of value to.
“But I’m realistic that it’s more unlikely than likely, but you’ve got to put your name forward.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au