AFL 2022: Former Adelaide Crow Josh Jenkins has backed Eddie Betts harrowing version of 2018 pre-season camp and demanded more answers

Another former Crow has revealed stunning details of the 2018 pre-season camp and demanded a report be released.

Former Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins has revealed his own harrowing version of events which took place at the 2018 pre-season camp as revealed by Eddie Betts this week and claimed a report by a club doctor detailing player concerns was never addressed.

Jenkins, who was part of the losing Crows Grand Final side in 2017 which was forced to go on the pre-season camp, opened up because he said “no one has taken responsibility for what went on” and he remained scarred.

Declaring he had concerns before the camp even began, Jenkins said he was outspoken during it and afterwards and his concerns led to him being called a “cancer” in the club before ultimately being forced out.

Like Betts, Jenkins said confidential details of his childhood were used against him and there were things done at the camo which were “misguided” and people at the club should have been held accountable.

“That’s why I was so strong on the doctor and welfare manager being involved. They would’ve put a stop to this and I think the club knew it… hence their lack of engagement, ” Jenkins wrote in a statement he read out on radio station SEN on Friday.

“We were sworn to secrecy even from teammates on different versions of the group,

“Myself and a coach stood up one session and demanded we tell each other what happened and the CEO or Football Manager (I cannot recall who exactly who) stood up and said we were unable to because the club had signed confidentiality agreements on everyone’s behalf.

“I said, “I did not sign a damn thing”.

Josh Jenkins was raised by a hero 'grandma' who took him and his siblings in as foster kids. What a legend she must have been. To think his childhood was used against him despite him making clear in no uncertain terms it was off limits is appalling https://t.co/bG1RQu17wrhttps://t.co/2R4OV4tl4F

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 5, 2022

“We continued to undertake activities like berating our captain for failing us on the biggest stage. Something that made me feel uncomfortable at the time and still does.

“Some things you cannot unsay.

“As fractures were beginning to become gigantic, portions of the playing group were beginning to say they were no longer willing to participate in the leadership program.

“On one occasion when we met as a large group (some staff included) the outcome was to exclude the indigenous players from the program.

“I stood up and said, and I recall vividly, because I knew it was the beginning of the end for me as an Adelaide Crow.

“In the end, I was moved on from the Crows as a problem child, an argument starter and even in one piece of literature I saw labelling me as ‘cancerous.

“The only cancer at the club was the idea that taking us on a psychologically unsafe camp that was supposedly going to make us better parents, siblings and teammates.

Oh my, Josh Jenkins recollecting his experience at Adelaide & the camp is horrific. Everyone involved in it and the cover up after it needs to never hold a position where they can do that to other people ever again. Absolute disgrace.

— Non Sensible Kate (@nonsensiblekate) August 5, 2022

Couldn’t get out of the car while listening to Josh Jenkins on SEN just now. Heartbreaking.

— Tess Armstrong (@tessarmstrong) August 5, 2022

Jenkins, who played 147 games for the Crows before finishing his career at Geelong, backed Betts; claims about how degrading some of the things players were put through were.

He said his concerns were laid out to a club doctor, who spoke to other players and put together a report which was never released, nor acted upon.

“There is a report from our club doctor Marc Cesana, whom I sat with on countless occasions where he assessed my welfare and did the same with others,” Jenkins wrote.

“He wrote a lengthy report off the back of his dealings with us as players and people. No one has ever acted on that report - which I know is damning.

“The report must see the light of day. It’s the only example of a medical professional who had day-to-day dealings with the people and players who were involved. He was concerned about us.

“He expressed his disappointment to me about what happened to us, but never disclosed the details of what he’d discussed with other players.

“Hence why the report needs to see the light of day.”