Crows bosses react to backlash from furious fans, ordering major external review and pledging change
A fierce backlash from supporters after another season of disappointment has shaken the Crows, and prompted club bosses to pledge significant changes. And Mark Ricciuto has said he would step down if an external review found he was the problem.
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Adelaide Crows chiefs say they are hurting as much as their fans and denied accusations of a disconnect with members by promising to make changes after an external review of the club’s football department.
On Monday, the Crows announced the review would be led by leadership, high performance and football experts to investigate why it had fallen from 2017 grand finalist to missing finals two years in a row.
No one’s job has been guaranteed, including coach Don Pyke, who is contracted to the end of 2021 and has not offered to stand down in the wake of Adelaide’s season ending in Ballarat on Sunday night.
Club legend and board member Mark Ricciuto on Tuesday said he would step down immediately if it found he was the problem and suggested Pyke would do likewise.
“I’m not saying I expect someone to get sacked but if findings are that that is the case, then you have got to go,” Ricciuto told Triple M radio on Tuesday.
“I know what Pykey is like, he’s an absolute A-grade person. And I would like to think I’m an honest and fair person as well.
“If I found I was the problem, I would step down immediately; would not even think twice about it.”
The formal review came as Ricciuto apologised for his controversial comments that if fans weren’t prepared to support those in charge of the club then “maybe they don’t need to barrack for the footy club anymore”.
That triggered a groundswell of anger with fans, particularly on social media, calling for change, and chief executive Andrew Fagan said on Monday night the club was listening and responding to their feedback.
“We absolutely understand the frustration of our large and passionate supporter base when we don’t perform to their or our expectations,” Fagan said.
“We share in their disappointment because we are disappointed as well, and we commit to making this club better in every way.
“Recent results certainly demand that we undertake the review and everyone inside the four walls of this football club is embracing it wholeheartedly because we want to get better and make our fans proud of us.
“We receive their feedback directly, I receive it directly myself, other individuals across the club, people who work on front office reception we get it every weekend and it’s mostly delivered to people who are hurting as well and are disappointed when we don’t deliver.”
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Ricciuto, who is football director on the club’s board, clarified his comments about fans on Sunday, saying they were not as he intended.
“It didn’t come out the right way ... I was referring to a very, very small portion of the football club membership,” he said.
“I love the members more than anyone else, I always have and anyone who knows me knows I’m like that, it’s certainly not an opinion of the wider membership base at all and it didn’t come out right.”
Fagan echoed that last night saying they were “some really poorly chosen words”.
“And not reflective in any way of the position of the football club,” he said. “They are words that Roo has already apologised for making, obviously his intent over five or six minutes of dialogue was to stress how thorough the review process would be and that no stone would be left unturned to make us better.”
Fagan spoke to Pyke on Sunday night and was meeting with him on Monday afternoon.
He said both Pyke and head of football Brett Burton were fully committed to being part of the internal and external reviews currently under way.
“They are embracing any opportunity to improve and challenge existing theories and thoughts,” Fagan said.
“Don is a quality person and quality coach and himself is committed to wanting to get better. He took us to a grand final two years ago but he is disappointed by our performances over the last couple of seasons and wholeheartedly supports the need to be challenged in our thinking.
“He clearly has some strong views of his own about what some of those adjustments could be, just as I do and other leaders in the football club.”
Adelaide is in a financial position to pay out existing contracts of coaches and staff if it decides, and Ricciuto has promised there will be change.
“Changes will be made on the back of it (review),” he said on FIVEaa. “We’re not hiding behind anything, I’ve got zero to hide and I want everything to get better at the football club.”
Adelaide revealed high performance expert Tim Gabbett and Australian Institute of Sport psychologist Jonah Oliver would fill two of the four spots on the external review panel.
The other two will be named later this week. The reviews are expected to take several weeks to complete and the full findings will not be made public because the club wants to protect the confidentiality of players and staff.
“The scope of the analysis will include all elements that impact on-field performance, including but not limited to coaching, leadership, development, environment, high performance and list management,” the Crows said in a statement.
Chairman Rob Chapman said the review came after “recent results had fallen short of our own expectations and those of our passionate and loyal members and supporters”.
“We must identify any deficiencies, challenge ourselves and focus on improvement with a view to delivering consistent performances and sustained success in a fiercely competitive league,” Chapman said.
“Having a number of experts with specific skillsets and expertise, as well as intimate knowledge of the modern game and high performance environments, will ensure there is meaningful feedback that can support positive change.”
Earlier on Monday, Adelaide’s football director Mark Ricciuto said no one’s job at West Lakes was guaranteed and that included himself and coach Don Pyke.
The club has also started its own internal review that would include “thorough examination of football structures, systems and personnel”.