Clumsy handling of Brenton Sanderson's departure went from bad to worse as the Crows' moved to minimise the damage when it became clear they had sacked their coach but had no ready replacement as Simon Goodwin signed with Melbourne.
To justify the shock move Adelaide put the focus squarely on its senior players, a strategy it could live to dearly regret. Not only did the blame game show a disturbing lack of fortitude it was also in at least some notable cases completely inaccurate and has created more disharmony within the club.
Private briefings saw a handful of senior players later named on Adelaide radio while chairman Rob Chapman in his media conference agreed that player consultations had played a part in Sanderson's downfall. The players named publicly on radio as being prepared to walk away from the club should Sanderson remain included Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker.
Breakfast radio host and Crows ambassador David Penberthy also named Richard Douglas and Brad and Matthew Crouch. Fairfax Media understands at least two of the above were not only furious at being publicly named but also refuting that the situation had deteriorated to the degree they wanted Sanderson sacked.
The seriously conflicted new director Mark Ricciuto went further than Chapman on his Adelaide radio station when he said: "The players were one of those groups and obviously form part of the reason why he [Sanderson] is not there from next year onwards."
This was unprofessional from Ricciuto whose role in Sanderson's sacking was pivotal. The Adelaide players believe the call was largely attributable to Ricciuto.
Matters moved quickly after Sanderson was removed. Ricciuto called his close friend Simon Goodwin on Wednesday night to discuss the senior coaching role while Melbourne, which had offered the former Crows captain and Essendon assistant coach Goodwin a five-year deal, spent several hours that night finalising its move. Goodwin told Ricciuto early on Thursday he was joining Paul Roos as his successor.
The Demons insisted yesterday they had not altered their offer as a result of the Adelaide move on Goodwin and that Goodwin had simply chosen Melbourne over the Crows. That left another Essendon assistant and dual Norwood premiership coach, Nathan Basset, as the current favourite for the role along with Sydney's Stuart Dew, who has said he would be interested. John Worsfold, the recently elected chairman of the AFL Coaches Association, is understood to have no interest in returning to senior coaching at this stage of his life.
The Crows directors - who are currently running the club before their new chief executive takes over - are also claiming they felt uncomfortable extending Sanderson's contract last December and demanded more information before acting on the executive's recommendation. Another disappointing refusal to take responsibility, but this is something we have come to expect from Adelaide in recent years.
The fact remains that although Sanderson's payout was said on Thursday to be nowhere near the $1.4 million that has been claimed – the second year on his deal had some conditions - he was considered good enough to earn a two-year extension on a deal that still had one year to run.
That the club and coach were at odds regarding the team's direction, his leadership skills, his ability to provide and receive strong feedback and his said failure to follow through with key strategies.
There were also key concerns about the Crows fitness program. And you cannot discount the Adelaide bitterness at Port's comparative success.
But the unnecessary wasted club finances, the lack of foresight and poor judgment is embarrassing. To out the senior players as harbouring such serious doubts about the coach that he had to be terminated immediately is unworthy of a once great club.
