Graham Cornes: SafeWork SA probe leaves Crows vindicated – but Victorian media and self-serving politicians should not be

With the Crows cleared of wrongdoing over their controversial Collective Mind camp, the true villains of the sorry saga have been laid bare, writes Graham Cornes.

The year-long SafeWork SA investigation into the Crows camp – which has cleared the club and everyone associated with the camp of any wrongdoing – is a welcome vindication of the club and the Collective Mind company.

But it’s of little consolation to the Adelaide Football Club.

Adelaide had conducted its own investigations, the AFL Integrity Unit had investigated the claims, the AFL Players Association had not received any complaints, and even the Dunstall review could not uncover any wrongdoing.

In all there have been at least five different reviews into the camp, operated by Collective Mind. None could substantiate the accusations of wrongdoing or any professional misconduct.

However, it’s of little consolation for the Crows after three years of frustration – indeed anger – at having to defend itself against baseless accusations and ridicule.

The SafeWork SA public statement is basic, almost stark.

“There is no evidence of any breach of the Work Health & Safety Act 2012 (SA) relating to the camp. The investigation is now closed,” it says.

The more detailed report would suggest the investigation was prompted by media reports which had been highly critical of the camp.

It also emphasises that often these investigations clear an organisation of any malpractice or wrongdoing.

Graham Cornes interviews former Adelaide Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan in December 2019. Picture: AAP/Sam Wundke

However given that the most critical media reporting of this camp emanated from Melbourne, and was based on rumour, innuendo and speculation, it’s hard to justify the use of the resources of a South Australian statutory authority.

For more than three years, the destructive Victorian media reporting, in the words or former Crows chairman Rob Chapman, “caused chaos”.

Worse was the interference of attention-seeking politicians who saw only headlines structured around baseless rumours.

If rebuilding a team on the ground was not difficult enough, frequently having to defend the club against constant attacks on its integrity was equally as taxing.

Former chief executive Andrew Fagan fought the brave fight but his job was made infinitely more difficult by this ongoing saga.

The Collective Mind camp was originally designed to improve the resilience of the Crows playing group after the disappointment of the 2017 grand final loss.

It also aimed to educate about and eliminate toxic masculinity – in short, to make better footballers and better men of the Crows players.

It’s hard to see how that could fall into the same category as the really serious workplace incidents that SafeWork SA investigates.

So, finally, after three wasted years of rumour, innuendo and false reporting, the distracting issue of the camp can be put to rest.

The club will now resume its mission of pursuing football excellence, both on and off the field, which, ironically, was the original objective of the Collective Mind camp.

Originally published as Graham Cornes: SafeWork SA probe leaves Crows vindicated – but Victorian media and self-serving politicians should not be