Star Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield insists ‘Gang of Five’ players did not push for Brenton Sanderson’s sacking
CROWS co-captain Patrick Dangerfield has taken issue with being named in a “Gang of Five” players who demanded coach Brenton Sanderson’s sacking.
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CROWS co-captain Patrick Dangerfield on Thursday night took issue with being named in a “Gang of Five” players who demanded Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson’s sacking with the ultimatum of a walk-out at West Lakes.
“Let me make this clear — we are not a football club that is run by our players,” said Dangerfield on the Channel Nine Footy Show in Melbourne last night.
He is the first Crows player to speak publicly since Sanderson was sacked on Wednesday afternoon.
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“(Sanderson’s sacking) was not a decision made by the players. It is simply incorrect. As players we are certainly consulted on how we can get better.
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“But I never met with the board,” added Dangerfield who has been named on radio as one of the five players who led a player revolt against Sanderson.
Dangerfield highlighted Sanderson had paid the price for failing to deliver Adelaide to the AFL finals for two consecutive seasons.
“The last two seasons we have not made finals — it is as simple as that, we finished 10th (this year) and 11th (last year),” he said.
“Not playing finals will not be tolerated by our football club.”
Dangerfield, who is on holiday at his family home near Geelong, learned of Sanderson’s sacking at 5.30pm (Melbourne time) on Wednesday in a telephone call from club chairman Rob Chapman.
He described his immediate reaction as “shock”.
“You don’t see that coming ... and you think to yourself what could have we done better as players,” he said.
Dangerfield, who is out of contract at the end of next season when he is a free agent, on Thursday night confirmed he had met with Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson in Melbourne.
He clarified this was to discuss the Australia-Ireland International Rules series in Perth next month when Clarkson will coach the AFL’s Australian team.
Originally published as Star Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield insists ‘Gang of Five’ players did not push for Brenton Sanderson’s sacking
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