Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan labels some theories on Adelaide’s fall as “extravagant”

CROWS chief executive Andrew Fagan has broken the silence at the Adelaide Football Club to ensure members the team can rebound with hard work after mid-season break

With a 6-7 record - and four consecutive losses for the first time since 2011 - Adelaide has crashed from a grand finalist in 2017 to an also-ran in 11th spot this season. Picture: Michael Dodge (Getty Images)

CROWS chief executive Andrew Fagan is describing some of the theories on Adelaide’s fall from the top of the AFL tree as “extravagant”.

Under fire after the Adelaide Football Club declared there would be four days of silence from West Lakes as the 11th-placed Crows started their mid-season break, Fagan tonight issued his first email update to the club’s members since April 20.

Fagan insists there is not one single factor - such as the flawed pre-season camp on the Gold Coast - that has derailed the 2017 losing grand finalist to be at also ran with a 6-7 record and four-game losing streak for the first time since 2011.

“It is reasonable for fans and media to speculate as to why this has happened, with many wanting to pinpoint a specific factor or issue,” Fagan writes.

“Some have looked to a post-grand final letdown, others to our significant injury toll and some to the effectiveness of pre-season camps. Along the way, there have been more than a few other extravagant theories.

“However, in high performance programs it is never a single thing that drives outstanding performance and similarly it is not a single fix to address underperformance.

“Football programs and people present a far more complex scenario. I trust you understand that it is not practical or sensible to respond to each and every one of the theories, nor is it easy to provide a simple response to the numerous activities occurring in complex environments.

“However, I want to assure you that everyone at the club – coaches, players, staff and administrators – are all clearly focused on finding the continuity and consistency that will get us back to playing the football of which we know we are capable and that has delivered strong performances over the past few seasons.

“Recent years have highlighted that one of the strengths of everyone associated with our club is resilience and determination to overcome adversity and succeed. We are competitive, but not immune to pressure and certainly recognise the tough position we find ourselves in.

“I am proud of and back our players and people.

“The AFL is one of the most competitive and demanding environments in professional sport.

“The competition is fierce, challenges are ever-present, equalisation works, pressure is immense and media coverage intense. But equally it is that environment which drives the people associated with our club to come to work each day with a steely determination to improve, develop and deliver against our significant expectations and those of our passionate and invested members and fans.

“If hard work is one of the keys to success, then we are definitely well positioned to work our way through this.

“At this time of year it is standard practice for our club’s key staff to review their respective areas of operation with a view to finding opportunities for further growth and improvement. This year the review process clearly has a greater emphasis. When the players and coaches return from a few days away from the club, they will share their learnings and recommendations and finalise the program for the back half of the season.

“This is an important process that we hope will enable us to launch into the remainder of the season with renewed energy and focus.”

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