Adelaide Crows cleared after investigation into 2018 pre-season camp

An investigation by a South Australian workplace safety group into the Crows’ infamous 2018 pre-season camp has reached its conclusion.

The Adelaide Crows have been cleared of any wrongdoing in regards to their infamous pre-season camp in 2018. Picture: Michael Willson / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Three years on from the infamous pre-season camp of 2018, the Adelaide Crows have been cleared of any work health and safety breaches after an independent investigation into the matter by SafeWork SA.

The camp, organised just months after the club lost to Richmond in the 2017 grand final, was said to have been emotionally distressing for a number of senior players as they were sent to the bush for mind training.

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But in a statement released by the Crows, the club had been cleared “of any wrongdoing in relation to its pre-season training camp in 2018”.

“SafeWork SA’s comprehensive investigation, which took more than a year to complete, found neither the Club nor any other person or organisation breached any work, health and safety laws during or in relation to the camp,” the statement read.

“The Club fully co-operated with the confidential investigation, voluntarily providing all information and documentation sought by SafeWork SA.

The Adelaide Crows were cleared of any wrongdoing after their pre-season camp in 2018. Picture: Michael Willson / AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The matter is now closed.”

The camp was run by Collective Mind, who describe themselves as a “Leadership Performance company”.

It was reported the camp left a number of senior stars emotionally distressed, as sensitive personal information was reportedly used for one of the activities.

Since the camp, both Brett Burton and Don Pyke, the Crows’ then-head of football and head coach respectively, have moved on from the club.

On the field, the club has been nothing short of mediocre after the camp.

Adelaide has failed to qualify for the top eight after its 2017 grand final loss. In fact, the South Australian side has failed to place higher than 11th.

The Crows also finished with the wooden spoon in 2020, and scraped to a 15th-place finish in 2021.