Gold Coast signing Hugh Greenwood says things were ‘bubbling’ for two years before the big Adelaide Crows clean-out
Departing Adelaide midfielder Hugh Greenwood believes the Crows had been on a downward spiral sparked by the crushing 2017 Grand Final defeat and is looking forward to a new start on the Gold Coast.
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Former Crow Hugh Greenwood says he “could feel things were bubbling’’ for two years at Adelaide and that it was “only a matter of time before the lid came off’’.
Just days after being traded to Gold Coast for future third and fourth round draft picks, the big-bodied midfielder said the Crows had been on a downward spiral since being crushed in the 2017 grand final by Richmond, leading to a big clean-out in the past month.
Coach Don Pyke resigned and head of football Brett Burton and senior assistant coach Scott Camporeale lost their jobs while a host of senior players have departed.
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“I owe a lot to Adelaide but I felt it was the right time to leave,’’ the 27-year-old said after signing a three-year deal, with a trigger clause for a fourth, with the Suns.
“I certainly didn’t agree with all the decisions that were made but it’s not often that you do.
“I respect them and wish the club the best but it’s been no secret with the way some things have been handled over the past two years, starting with the grand final and the ripple effects.
“You could see internally that stuff was bubbling and that it was only a matter of time before the lid came off and ultimately that happened.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s got to this point but it’s great to see that the club is finally putting its foot down and making some tough calls in terms of list, selection, coaching and those sorts of things.
“I know the fan base will be happy with that, getting a little bit more transparency.
“It’s going to be a difficult, potentially, 12 months, but I think the club will certainly be better long term and has ultimately made the right calls.’’
Former star basketballer Greenwood, who played 51 games in three seasons at the Crows but just 14 this year, reiterated that while his last two years at Adelaide were disappointing he wanted to stay at West Lakes, describing his departure as “bittersweet’’.
“We said from the get-go that our preference was to stay at Adelaide but under the right circumstances,’’ he told SEN.
“Security was a big one for us, so to be able to get that (at Gold Coast) and also opportunity.
“I remember when I first got dropped this year I felt like it had nothing to do with form and was more about my position in the team and not really having a definitive one.
“I wanted to go somewhere and have a real opportunity to have a real crack at it.
“Obviously at the Gold Coast it’s going to certainly be a challenge but I am excited in the direction the club is going.
“We had some conversations with some other clubs but when this one came up everything fell together in the right place.’’
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Greenwood, who announced this week that he and long-time partner Kjiersten are expecting their first child, said the Suns had told him he would play in his preferred position in the midfield.
“That’s where I feel I play my best footy and with the young group that we have they need some mature bodies to help out those young guys,’’ he said.