Adelaide players face investigation over alleged breach of AFL training protocols
Eagle-eyed golfers dobbed in a group of Adelaide Crows players for breaching AFL training protocols while they were meant to be ‘self-isolating’ in the Barossa Valley. The club is now awaiting its punishment.
Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crows. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Eagle-eyed golfers dobbed in a group of Adelaide Crows players for breaching strict AFL training protocols while “self-isolating” in the Barossa Valley.
The AFL was tipped off about the Crows training session on Thursday afternoon, prompting league investigators to contact the club demanding answers.
The league is set to hand down its penalty to the club on Saturday, with the Crows bracing for a heavy financial sanction.
Two club staff members - including assistant coach Ben Hart - were also present along with leadership group member and defender Tom Doedee, who had returned to SA from Victoria this week.
AFL players are only permitted to train in pairs to ensure fairness before small-group training for all 18 clubs resumes next week.
Sixteen Crows are housed at the Novotel Barossa Valley while they serve the state’s strict 14-day quarantine rules.
Relive classic AFL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
A number of groups of golfers played the Tanunda Pines Golf Course, adjacent to the Novotel Barossa Valley which is housing the quarantined group, on Thursday and came in close proximity to the Crows players, who were doing circle work on two of the course’s fairways with footballs.
The league had fumed at the breach, fearing it could impact its negotiations with state governments as it endeavours to get teams training across the country again with an eye to restarting the season in mid-June.
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan admitted today that the incident was the club’s error, labelling it an “honest mistake, but a serious one”, and said that he had personally contacted league boss Gillon McLachlan to express his apology.
Fagan said that the club had obtained approval from SA Police to train at the facility, but that the group was to only train in pairs and maintain social distancing.
He said that communication among the group was not clear, and that some players “came together beyond their pairs, I think as a group of eight, and they breached some of those social distancing rules”.
New Crows coach Matthew Nicks declared that he would take responsibility for the breach.
“I’m in charge of our football department and on this occasion I’ve dropped the ball when it comes to communication,” he told Triple M Adelaide.
“I’m responsible for that and I will own that mistake.”
Crows football boss Adam Kelly said: “The club had become aware that players, who are being accompanied by an assistant coach who is also serving a mandatory self-isolation period, may have breached the league’s directive to only train in pairs during a scheduled session on Thursday afternoon.
“Players were told to complete any training in accordance with current AFL training protocols, which include not training in more than pairs and at all times maintaining social distancing, while staying at the facility.
“It appears this may not have happened for the entirety of a skills session and we are in the process of gathering the facts and liaising with the AFL.”
The golf resort is closed to the public.
The Crows have a history of AFL breaches including the 2012 Kurt Tippett salary cap cheating affair.
MORE AFL NEWS:
Dean Laidley offered ‘groundswell’ of support from former teammates and AFL Coaches Association
AFL clubs nominate June 18 and 25 as possible dates for season to resume
WA premier Mark McGowan says state won’t be dictated to by sport leagues when easing border controls