AFL clubs will be nervous: Crows coach

Updated November 19, 2012 14:57:56

All other AFL clubs will be nervous in the wake of the Kurt Tippett controversy, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says.

The Crows and Tippett have been charged by the AFL with salary cap cheating and draft tampering in relation to the key forward's expired contract with the club.

"I probably shouldn't comment on other clubs but I'm sure this is going to make a lot of other clubs nervous, too," Sanderson told reporters on Monday.

"There is a lot of greyness surrounding ASAs (additional services agreements) and how players are paid and stuff so probably the other 17 clubs are just double-checking and ensuring that everything is above board.

"But as far as I know ... Adelaide has been squeaky clean for 22 years and this has been something that they are going to have to work through and we will certainly get through it."

Tippett, the Crows, chief executive Steven Trigg, club football operations manager Phil Harper and his predecessor John Reid have all been charged by the AFL.

An AFL commission hearing, initially scheduled on Monday to hear the charges, was postponed to give the Crows more time to build their defence.

If found guilty, Tippett could be de-registered as a player and the Crows banned from up to four national drafts, as well as fined any amount the AFL determines.

"It's a bit out of my hands, to be honest," Sanderson said of likely future draft penalties.

"As we stand today, really happy to be involved in this year's draft and we'll bring some good young talent in and, until the investigation is completed, I guess we have just got to wait and see."

Tippett became the Crows' highest-paid player on signing a multi-million dollar, three-year contract extension in 2009.

But Adelaide admitted last month they had a once-secret deal, outside the contract, with the ruckman-forward who walked out on the club at the end this season.

The investigation prevented Adelaide trading Tippett, who remains on the club's list until he likely nominates for December's preseason draft.

Sanderson said money was central to Queensland-native Tippett's decision to quit the Crows and request to play for premiers Sydney.

"When Kurt told us he was going to leave and he said it was going to be to Sydney, that - from our point of view - was a bit of a surprise. There was always the talk that he wanted to return home (to Queensland)," Sanderson said.

Sanderson did not raise the Tippett saga with Crows' players when they returned for preseason training on Monday.

"We mentioned this morning to the players that all they can do is do their very best to prepare themselves for a great 2013," he said.

"We didn't really even talk about it - we didn't feel the need to.

"It has been played out pretty heavily in the media obviously but, from our point of view - internally, inside the bubble - things are just business as usual."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted November 19, 2012 14:05:28

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Crows given more time to build case

Updated November 16, 2012 17:43:42

The AFL has granted a stay of execution to Adelaide and star forward Kurt Tippett, adjourning Monday's commission hearing over salary cap breaches to an undetermined later date.

The league said in a statement on Friday afternoon that Crows football operations general manager Phil Harper had sought more time for the club to prepare its submissions.

The Crows were to have answered charges of salary cap cheating and draft tampering laid by the AFL over their Kurt Tippett dealings on Monday.

Key forward Kurt Tippett, Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg, the club's football operations manager Phil Harper and former football operations manager John Reid have also been charged and will front an AFL commission hearing in Melbourne.

But the hearing has been postponed indefinitely to give Harper, who was only charged on Tuesday, and the Crows more time to form their defence with lawyers.

"The Commission will provide the requested extra time, and that the hearing will not proceed on Monday as previously scheduled, to ensure that natural justice is provided," the AFL said.

"A new hearing date is yet to be set, but will be advised to all parties, the media and the wider football public as soon as it is determined."

Meanwhile Adelaide captain Nathan van Berlo is "flabbergasted" at reports he and the Crows are being investigated for third party payments outside the Crows' salary cap.

Van Berlo's manager Colin Young said the Fairfax Media report was "an absolute disgrace", saying all aspects of the Adelaide skipper's contract had been AFL approved.

The AFL said next Thursday's national draft will go ahead as scheduled despite the adjournment.

The annoucement came as the AFL warned more players will be scrutinised for third party deals after the league ruled Chris Judd's agreement with Carlton sponsor Visy can no longer sit outside the Blues' salary cap.

The deal, payment for Judd's services as ambassador for Visy, played a key role in the superstar midfielder moving to Carlton from West Coast in 2008.

ABC/AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted November 16, 2012 17:43:42

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Crows claim to have been misrepresented

Updated November 15, 2012 11:30:31

Adelaide's chiefs have sent a message to supporters saying the club has been misrepresented over the Kurt Tippett saga, insisting they did not intend to deceive the AFL.

The Crows, chief executive Steven Trigg and current and former general manager of football operations, Phil Harper and John Reid, as well as Tippett, all face charges.

"We can say that we do not accept everything that has been reported in the media," Trigg and club chairman Rob Chapman said in the letter.

"Throughout the past three years and the recent trading period, it was always the club's intention to comply fully with all AFL rules on the draft and player payments.

"We look forward to the hearing next Monday and then being able to explain directly to you and all our members, sponsors and supporters exactly what happened, why it happened and how it happened."

"We will explain everything to you as soon as we can. Out of respect for the AFL process, we are unable to provide comment on these issues until that process is complete."

The club is being accused of draft tampering and making third party payments available to Tippett.

Reports have surfaced today that at the centre of the scandal is an allegation that a proportion of sponsorship money from a South Australian bakery was diverted to Tippett.

The AFL Commission on the issue begins on Monday.

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First posted November 15, 2012 11:15:15

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Tippett saga set to hurt Crows

Updated October 26, 2012 08:45:56

Adelaide faces a double disaster over Kurt Tippett, with the Crows rapidly running out of time to strike a trade deal involving the key forward.

The Crows will probably lose him for nothing through the draft but that is the least of Adelaide's worries.

The Crows and Tippett are under a league investigation which now also includes allegations of salary cap cheating.

If AFL investigations officer Ken Wood finds there was wrongdoing when Adelaide re-signed Tippett in 2009, the ramifications are massive for the club, player and his management.

It is understood the league has confirmed to Adelaide it can still present a trade option for Tippett, regardless of the investigation.

But it is also unclear whether the league would approve any trade.

The AFL trade period ends at 2pm on Friday, with the ongoing investigation giving rival clubs even more pause to negotiate with the Crows over Tippett.

There is no timeframe for Wood to complete his investigation.

The Tippett saga has mutated from a massive headache to a potentially devastating blow for the Crows.

There had been speculation for months about the key forward's future once his contract with Adelaide expired at the end of this season.

Adelaide officials had repeatedly denied the existence of a special clause in Tippett's contract, struck when he re-signed in 2009.

That contract made him the Crows' highest-paid player.

But it has now emerged there was an arrangement, outside the contract, where the Crows would allegedly trade Tippett to a club of his choice for a second-round draft pick.

That arrangement is at the centre of the league's investigation into draft tampering.

Now the league is apparently looking into whether the secret deal involved a salary cap breach as well.

There is little doubt the league will come down hard on Adelaide, especially if the Crows are found guilty of breaking strict salary cap rules.

Adelaide would most likely suffer a fine and the loss of draft picks and they have said they will accept the AFL's verdict.

There is growing speculation about the future of chief executive Steven Trigg should the league decide to punish the Crows.

Tippett and his manager Peter Blucher could also be penalised for their parts in any rules breach.

Last week, Adelaide failed to reach a trade deal with Sydney involving Tippett.

Originally, the speculation was that if the Queensland-born player left the Crows, he would return to his home state and play for Brisbane or Gold Coast.

Sydney's bold four-year bid for Tippett shocked the Crows.

On Friday, Adelaide went to the league about the secret deal because of concerns they had about their legality and this sparked the investigation.

AAP

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First posted October 26, 2012 08:44:54

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Crows stand behind banned bosses

Updated December 01, 2012 17:09:45

The Adelaide Football Club board has unanimously voted to support Steven Trigg and Phil Harper's return to the Crows at the end of their suspensions.

As well as handing out hefty fines, the AFL Commission yesterday banned the chief executive and football manager from any involvement with the competition over the Kurt Tippett salary cap scandal.

Along with a $50,000 fine, Trigg is banned from the AFL from January 1 and will be replaced in the interim by chairman Rob Chapman.

Read the story: Crows, Tippett found guilty over salary cap breaches

Trigg's total suspension was a year, but half will be suspended for five years.

While Chapman took questions when he fronted the media after Friday's marathon commission hearing, Trigg would only read from a prepared statement and cited legal sensitivities for doing so.

"As chief executive then and now, I've accepted full responsibility for what the AFL considers to be a significant transgression of those rules and for that, I'm very sorry," Trigg said.

He later added on his suspension: "it's unprecedented and it's impossible to sit here without feeling it's extraordinarily tough.

"Obviously, an example has been set."

Chapman then spoke and clearly his top priority was to say sorry.

"The first and most important thing that I want to say tonight is to sincerely apologise to everyone associated with Adelaide," he said.

"I'm talking staff, coaches, players and members, supporters and importantly our sponsors.

"I am sorry on behalf of everyone involved."

Trigg and football operations manager Phil Harper, who is banned for two months, have Chapman's personal support.

But it will be up to the board to decided whether the Crows retain the two key officials.

Trigg has been Adelaide's chief executive for more than a decade and he also received endorsements from AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and chief executive Andrew Demetriou after the Tippett hearing.

"This looked not like a systematic breach, from our point of view," Fitzpatrick said.

"Clearly, Steven would like to have his time again.

"It's fundamentally the one transaction ... in other ways, Steven Trigg has been an exemplary chief executive."

Demetriou said he would gladly work again with Trigg, Harper and former Crows football operations manager John Reid, who also received a six-month ban.

"He knows he made a mistake, in many ways it's an act of stupidity, because it's not in keeping with his performance and his character," Demetriou said of Trigg.

"This is a very hefty sanction.

"He will learn from this and will be welcomed back into the industry."

ABC/AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 01, 2012 09:55:53

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Tippett, Crows found guilty over salary cap breach

Updated November 30, 2012 20:12:15

Kurt Tippett has been fined $50,000 and suspended for half the 2013 AFL season while the Adelaide Crows have been fined $300,000 for breaching the salary cap and tampering with the draft.

Adelaide and its chief executive Steven Trigg pleaded guilty to three charges in relation to "conduct prejudicial to the draft" and "conduct in breach of the total player payments provisions" at the hearing at AFL House in Melbourne.

Tippett was fined and suspended for the 2013 preseason and season, half of which was suspended for five years, by the specially convened AFL Commission after Fairfax reports emerged the forward was willing to settle for a "substantial suspension" for his part in the irregularities written into his AFL contract.

The Crows have also been banned from the first two rounds of the 2013 national draft.

Trigg was fined $50,000 and banned from any club role for six months, while Harper has been suspended for two months and his predecessor John Reid, no longer directly involved in the AFL, was banned for 12 months, suspended for six months.

All suspensions begin on January 1, 2013.

The charges stemmed from the contract that Tippett signed with Adelaide in 2009, which made him the Crows' highest-paid player.

Adelaide allegedly agreed to trade him to a club of his choice for a second-round draft pick - a massively lopsided arrangement - when the contract finished at the end of 2012.

The Crows allegedly made a further payment of up to $200,000 to Tippett outside the salary cap.

"The club accepts the sanctions from the AFL Commission and accepts that the AFL does not tolerate any breach, intended or unintended," Adelaide said in a statement shortly after its punishments were handed down.

"The club is confident that the youth, ability and character of its player list, the capacity of its coaching panel and off-field leadership, coupled with the quality of its strategic recruiting in the 2011 and 2012 drafts and trading periods, will help it offset the loss of high draft picks this year and next year."

Tippett said in a statement that he was "bitterly disappointed" with the outcome.

"I trusted the Adelaide Football Club and for the duration of my contract I did my utmost for the club on and off the field," he said.

"It is bitterly disappointing, then, to learn that my trust and best endeavours have been to my substantial detriment.

"Only during the recent AFL trade period did I learn that some terms in the Adelaide offer may have contravened AFL rules, and since that point I and all parties associated with me have cooperated fully with the AFL in its investigations."

The 104-game forward said he had nothing to hide.

"I have ... only refrained from media comment in recent weeks on legal advice and out of respect for the AFL investigation process," he said.

"Through my legal representative I asked for an open hearing today in the hope that the truth would be revealed.

"I pleaded guilty to the two charges on advice without any admission of liability and despite being assured there were valid defences available to me in respect to both charges.

"It is very important to me that I concentrate on preparing for next season and remove all distractions from my preparation.

"I am glad that this matter is now finalised and I look forward to moving on and playing football."

The Crows said the indiscretions were "errors of judgement".

"Never was there any intent to gain unfair advantage, compromise the draft, breach the salary cap or make improper player payments," the club said.

"The club and its officers always acted consistent with their intent to uphold the integrity of the draft and the club did not breach the salary cap. This is accepted by the AFL.

"However, it was wrong to generate a letter of agreement outside of Kurt Tippett's AFL-lodged contract."

The statement said the Crows board will meet soon to establish how to restructure the suspension-riddled front office will operate in the coming months.

"I think you have to give the benefit [of the doubt] to the players," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou told reporters on Friday afternoon.

"Kurt Tippett was a 22-year-old who was homesick and wanted to return to the Gold Coast.

"I believe this impaired his judgement. It will probably happen again one day to a player who thinks it's okay to cut a corner.

"It wasn't a scenario that gave the club a significant advantage over other clubs."

The hearing was a marathon affair, beginning at 8:00am (AEDT) and stretching until late in the afternoon.

It considered 11 charges in the league's biggest salary cap and list management scandal since Carlton was slugged with massive penalties in 2002.

In the lead-up to the hearing, Adelaide went out of its way to make public its willingness to cooperate with the AFL during the investigation and also surrendered its first two picks in the 2012 draft.

The AFL released a statement on Wednesday saying Tippett will be given until Monday to register his financial terms for the December 11 preseason draft.

The Greater Western Sydney Giants - who have targeted Tippett - have the first draft pick.

Tippett, who wants to move to the Sydney Swans, will not be able to join any club as a free agent and is likely to put a large figure on his own head in an attempt to dissuade the Giants from selecting him.

Adelaide was trying to finalise a deal with the Swans in October when instead it went to the AFL over secret third-party payments that formed part of its 2009 contract with the key forward.

The league immediately opened an investigation and ruled the Crows could not delist Tippett.

After weeks of speculation he registered on Wednesday for the preseason draft.

Sydney reaffirmed its interest in Tippett in a statement shortly after the sanctions were handed down.

"Although today's decision is obviously a disappointing setback for Kurt, we have always seen Kurt as a long-term player and we will go to the preseason draft with the intention of selecting him if he's available at our pick," Swans football general manager Dean Moore said.

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First posted November 30, 2012 17:52:12

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Crows receive additional charges

Updated November 14, 2012 12:19:35

Adelaide is facing further charges from the AFL over illegal payments made to Kurt Tippett over the course of his recently expired three-year contract with the Crows.

The Crows and Tippett were already set to face a hearing beginning on November 19 over allegations of draft tampering and breaking AFL rules on player payments.

Now the Crows, its chief executive Steven Trigg and football operations manager Phil Harper have been charged with breaking rule 17 relating to total player payments - believed to be in reference to the reported extra $200,000 the player took home outside of his contract from 2009.

"In accordance with AFL Player Rule 17, which relates to the enforcement of the AFL Draft and Total Player Payments, I have today issued a further three charges," AFL's general manager of football operations, Adrian Anderson said.

"The Adelaide Crows Football Club, Adelaide Crows Chief Executive Officer Steven Trigg and Adelaide Crows General Manager Football Operations Phil Harper have each been charged once as follows:

"Contrary to Rule 17 of the Rules, between September 2009 and October 2012, you engaged in conduct in breach of the Total Player Payments provisions in the Rules."

This is the first charge Harper has received over the scandal.

In total, Trigg faces a total of three charges, while Tippett and former Crows general manager of football operations John Reid will answer to two charges.

Adelaide released a statement saying it understood the extra charges and looks forward to representing its case on Monday.

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First posted November 14, 2012 10:59:13

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AFL investigating secret Crows business

Updated October 24, 2012 18:32:48

Adelaide says it will cop any penalty handed down by the AFL for its secret deal which could kill Kurt Tippett's bid to join Sydney.

The Crows face fines and loss of draft picks, and star forward Tippett could be deregistered as an AFL player, if an investigation by the AFL finds they broke the league's rules.

Tippett's manager Peter Blucher also faces a possible ban for his role in a murky deal which was hidden from the AFL for three years until last Friday.

Tippett became Adelaide's highest-paid player in 2009 when agreeing to a three-year contract extension with the club.

Since the signing, speculation has been rife of a clause which enabled Tippett to be traded at the end of the contract to the club of his choice, in return for a second-round draft pick - compensation well below the key forward's market worth.

Crows management repeatedly denied the existence of the clause in the contract.

But the Crows admitted to the AFL last Friday they had a secret agreement, outside the contract, with Tippett.

Tippett's contract with the Crows has expired and he has requested a trade to the premier Swans.

The move shocked Adelaide, which believed Queensland-born Tippett would likely return home if he left the club.

And with the AFL trade period ending on Friday at 2:00pm (AEDT), Tippett's future hinges on the findings of the league's investigation.

Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman said the Crows board confessed to the AFL "because it was the right thing to do".

"There was no alternative here," Chapman told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

"The thought not to disclose never entered our mind and (Crows chief executive) Steven (Trigg) and I made that call straight away."

Chapman did not explain why Adelaide kept the deal a secret for three years.

"If we have stuffed up in any way, and I'm not pre-empting that, we'll put up our hand and say sorry and remedy it and move on," Chapman said.

"We will take whatever comes out of it."

Chapman declined to guarantee the position of Trigg as club chief executive.

"We will reach the right conclusions after this," he said.

"Steven Trigg has been a veteran of this world, as has (former football operations manager) Johnny Reid, (current football operations manager) Phil Harper, everyone at our club.

"And they have got a history of complying with the rules and ... I don't want to speculate beyond that because that might prejudice the outcome of the investigation."

The Crows, by confessing the deal, were not ensuring a lighter penalty from the AFL, he said.

"We brought it to their attention ... but there is no assurances," Chapman said.

AAP

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First posted October 24, 2012 08:37:12

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Crows, Bombers to open AFL season

Updated October 16, 2012 08:33:22

Adelaide will play Essendon at Football Park to start the 2013 AFL season, with the opening round to be split over two weekends.

The first game of the season on Friday, March 22 will be followed a day later by the derby between West Coast and Fremantle.

Carlton and Richmond will face-off on Thursday night the following week.

Geelong and Hawthorn cap off the first round with a tantalising clash on Easter Monday.

The full 2013 AFL draw is expected to be realised later this month.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, essendon-3040, vic

First posted October 16, 2012 07:15:46

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Crows rule out re-drafting Tippett

Updated October 11, 2012 14:51:35

The Adelaide Crows have ruled out re-drafting key forward Kurt Tippett if they fail to reach an agreement with the Sydney Swans during the AFL's trade period.

Tippett has told the Crows he wants to move to the Swans, but so far the two clubs have been unable to strike a deal.

Tippett had expressed a desire to return to his native Queensland, before shocking the Crows in choosing Sydney as his preferred new club.

He could enter the preseason draft if he is not traded.

But Adelaide's list manager David Noble has told DMG Radio the Crows would not re-select him, even though they will have a higher pick than the Swans.

"I can tell you we won't be drafting him back. Would you really try to go and re-contract someone that left your club and doesn't want to be here?" he said.

"I think for us it doesn't make sense and I think he's made his decision. He wants to leave us and so therefore you work in the mechanisms that you've got the best available options."

Noble believes Kurt Tippett's decision to leave could end up strengthening the club, bringing the rest of the playing group closer together.

"This has actually bonded our players even closer in my opinion," he said.

"I've had that much conversation with our players and through our leadership group and through the coach that all the guys we've recontracted this year know that we're on the cusp of something special."

But Adelaide's Josh Jenkins says Crows players feel "dudded" by Tippett, suggesting the forward has burnt bridges at the club.

"I still keep in contact with my ex-team-mates and some of the football staff," Jenkins, who left Essendon last year to join the Crows, wrote in a column for the Adelaide Advertiser.

"Being relatively unknown, I feel lucky I was able to depart the Bombers yet keep up the relationships that had been built in my time at the club.

"For Kurt Tippett, that may not be the case.

"Speculation continued to suggest he would seek a move home at some stage. Most could understand that. But last I checked, Sydney is not in Queensland.

"I couldn't imagine spending several years at the one club, only to leave and burn almost all the bridges that had been built over the years.

"I am not saying Kurt no longer has friends or positive relationships at the Crows. But most from West Lakes would have some right to be disappointed in his actions.

"Kurt's situation is not the first and won't be the last trade/free agency scenario where the club that loses the player feels dudded."

ABC/AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted October 11, 2012 12:03:07

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Tippett to leave Crows

Updated October 02, 2012 10:58:45

Adelaide Crows have confirmed they will be without Kurt Tippett next season after the key forward requested a trade to another club.

Tippett and the Crows put contract negotiations on hold until the end of the season, and Tippett's management informed Adelaide on Tuesday morning they would not be accepting the club's offer.

List manager David Noble said the Crows, who made this season's preliminary finals, did everything they could to keep Tippett at the club.

"We believe that our club has provided Kurt with an outstanding learning environment after drafting him as an extremely inexperienced 18-year old in 2006," he said.

"On top of this we have always put Kurt's best interests at the forefront as well as remunerating him at the top end of our player payments scale.

"The club has now reassessed the current list and will continue its strategy to make sure the team's needs are met so the improved performances of 2012 continue."

As Tippett has not served eight-plus years with the Crows, he is not a free agent and can only join another club through a trade under the AFL's new free agency system.

The Queensland-born 25-year-old is tipped to return to his home state with either the Gold Coast Suns or Brisbane Lions.

However, Collingwood and even premier Sydney are in the race to capture the talented forward's services.

Tippett played 104 games for the Crows after being drafted with pick 32 of the 2006 Draft.

He made his debut in 2008 and went on to kick 188 goals for Adelaide.

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First posted October 02, 2012 10:38:18

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Tigers sign Knights from Crows

Updated October 01, 2012 13:40:38

Richmond has picked up Adelaide's Chris Knights in the first completed player move of AFL trade week.

Knights, 26, played eight seasons with the Crows and was a part of Adelaide's finals sides under Neil Craig, but struggled to make an impression under new coach Brenton Sanderson.

He moves to the Tigers as an unrestricted free agent.

"We're delighted to have gained Chris' services, as we believe he'll be a valuable acquisition for our group," Richmond's general manager of football, Craig Cameron, said in a statement.

"Chris has the all-round talent, versatility, and experience to really help us, and we feel that he'll thrive with the opportunities at Tigerland."

Knights said the week leading up to his signing had been "nerve-wracking" but that he was happy to move on with a fresh club.

"I spent eight years with the Adelaide Football Club, which has been fantastic to me," Knights said.

"Your career is a short one, and you just have to make the most of it, and Richmond gave me that opportunity, so I'm just delighted to be here."

In other trade week news, the Fremantle Dockers have made a formal offer for Port Adelaide utility Danyle Pearce.

Pearce is an unrestricted free agent, and the Power has 72 hours to match the Dockers' offer.

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First posted October 01, 2012 13:40:38

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Crows shattered after close defeat

Updated September 23, 2012 11:15:12

A classic us-against-everyone mentality nearly paid off brilliantly for Adelaide, but instead the Crows were shattered after the AFL preliminary final loss to Hawthorn.

After slumping to 14th last season, the Crows won the pre-season competition, finished second in the home-and-away season and on Saturday came within five points of their first grand final since the 1998 premiership.

First-year senior coach Brenton Sanderson was full of praise for his team and readily admitted they wanted to prove the critics wrong.

"There are a lot of tears in the changeroom," Sanderson said.

"I don't think I've seen a group so disappointed and I think it's because we really wanted to shock you (media).

"No one picked us, no one thought we'd get to this far let alone that point in the game.

"But we had strong belief within our group that we could win today."

Sanderson said throughout the season, Adelaide defied outside expectations.

The team played poorly in the qualifying final against Sydney, but then rallied brilliantly to beat Fremantle in a semi-final and came so close to an epic upset against Hawthorn.

Adding to the pain of the loss, it was the last game for Crows veteran Michael Doughty.

Sanderson said over the off-season, Adelaide would have to manage much greater expectations about its performance.

"Next year, we will be expected to finish where we left off this year," he said.

"We have to live with that through the summer and field questions about that over most of the summer."

For all the bravery of Saturday's loss, it was the club's fourth preliminary final loss since the 1997-98 premierships.

Sanderson said there was a good feeling at the pre-game meeting as the Crows went over their plan to beat the Hawks.

One of the keys was shutting down what Sanderson called Hawthorn's "mark chains" - their ability to set up team-mates down the ground with accurate kicks.

He and Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said separately that the third term was crucial.

Hawthorn kicked four unanswered goals to take the initiative from Adelaide and set up the epic final term.

Sanderson said they would now use the game as a teaching tool for the players over the summer - and no doubt to spur them for greater efforts next season.

"I'm sure we'll look at that game a lot, as painful as it might be, just to see areas where we could have improved and maybe used the ball a little bit better," he said.

"God, they're hard - they're so hard to win and it's almost like Hawthorn now, they get to a grand final and the pressure is off.

"It's a big game for them next week.

"Everyone wrote us off, that's fine, because Hawthorn should have been the favourites.

"But the underdogs, sometimes you never know."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000

First posted September 23, 2012 11:14:03

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Hawks pair ready for Crows test

Updated September 18, 2012 18:20:32

Key Hawthorn duo Jordan Lewis and Clinton Young will be available for the preliminary final after they completed Tuesday's heavy training session.

The pair were major omissions from the side that beat Collingwood two weekends ago in the qualifying final and are set to return for Saturday's twilight final against Adelaide at the MCG.

Lewis was a late withdrawal with a tight hamstring and Young had a calf injury.

Assistant coach Adam Simpson said the Hawks had a solid hitout on Tuesday after the qualifying final win gave them the week off.

"They trained well - for a week off I think there's plenty of energy out there and we did a bit today," Simpson said.

"We had a good blowout and those two (Lewis and Young) will be available this week.

"The way the guys have trained, it seems to be they're pretty mature about the week and have embraced the week off.

"The focus is pretty strong."

Defender Tom Murphy looms as one of the omissions as Lewis and Young return.

While the Crows have growing injury concerns, Hawthorn have minimal personnel problems and will start the clash as strong favourites.

Defender Brent Guerra (hamstring) is desperately trying to prove his fitness should the Hawks make the grand final.

Forward Brendan Whitecross needed a knee reconstruction after he was injured early in the qualifying final.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted September 18, 2012 18:13:27

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Crows need Hawks to play below-par

Updated September 19, 2012 19:46:09

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson admitted his side will not be able to beat Hawthorn unless the flag favourite plays below its best.

While believing his Crows can upset the raging flag favourites, Sanderson says Hawthorn's "best is almost hard to get near".

Sanderson said the Crows must to lift "another five or 10 per cent" for the MCG preliminary final.

"These games go another level again," he said.

"We have seen, and our boys have commented on, the pressure that is involved in these matches so far, qualifying finals and semi-finals.

"But prelim finals are almost the toughest game to win.

"Sometimes structure and set-ups get thrown out the door and it's just brutal, hard footy and that is what our guys are expecting."

Bookmakers installed Hawthorn as the shortest-priced preliminary final favourites in history but Sanderson said his Crows were ready for the challenge.

"I love the build-up of prelim finals - there are four teams left and there is all the speculation and people looking at match-ups and who looks better," he said.

"There are still four teams that can win it.

"It seems really simplistic but the game will start with the score at 0-0.

"We will do everything we possibly can to be at our best, hopefully our best is good enough.

"We certainly need Hawthorn to not play at their best."

Sanderson said Adelaide, outscored in first quarters of their two finals, must ensure the Hawks don't get a fast start.

"We have been jumped the last two weeks, Hawthorn normally start the game really well, so we have got to ensure that we are ready to go right from the first bounce," he said.

"The anxiety and the emotion and the big stage can sometimes get to people, but we have just got to make sure our first contest, we are switched on.

"We can't allow Hawthorn to get a decent start on us - it takes too much energy to get back and then over-run a side.

"We know Hawthorn has had the 15 or 16 days break into this game so they're certainly fresh and fit, and we're coming off two hard finals.

"But I think our guys are ready for this game."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, hawthorn-3122

First posted September 19, 2012 16:54:48

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Hawks hang on against gutsy Crows

Updated September 22, 2012 20:24:10

Hawthorn avoided one of the biggest preliminary final upsets in AFL history, outlasting a brave Adelaide by five points at the MCG to setup a grand final against Sydney.

The Hawks, who against the odds trailed by seven points at quarter-time and five at the main break, fought back to take a 16-point three-quarter time lead before a dramatic charge put the Crows in front by a point with just over five minutes left.

But an inspirational, late performance by Cyril Rioli and a match-saving tackle by Ben Stratton helped the Hawks avoid a repeat of last year's preliminary final pain and hang on for a heart-stopping 13.19 (97) to 14.8 (92) triumph.

The Hawks surrendered a 17-point advantage at the final change to lose by three points to Collingwood in last year's grand final qualifier.

Memories of that horror night would have come flooding back when Jason Porpylzia kicked true to put Adelaide within five points after Ryan Schoenmakers' ill-discipline reversed a free kick.

Substitute Graham Johncock then booted the Crows into a narrow lead only for Rioli to convert a goal after taking a vital contested mark deep inside 50 only seconds later.

The Hawks superstar then used his speed to setup Lance Franklin (3.5) for his third goal that pushed the margin back out to 11 points.

In the true spirit of Adelaide's fighting performance, Crows speedster Patrick Dangerfield took the game on in his attacking 50 half only to be hauled down by a crucial tackle by Stratton.

Taylor Walker (4.0), who along with forward partner Kurt Tippett (4.1) had a massive impact on the contest, kept things interesting until the final siren when he nailed his fourth goal of the game.

But with only 16 seconds remaining the visitors fell agonisingly short of a boilover that would have surpassed Adelaide's preliminary final heroics against the Bulldogs in 1997.

More follows.

Hawthorn: 13.19 (97) - L Franklin 3, J Gunston 2, L Breust 2, C Rioli 2, C Young, S Burgoyne, L Shiels, M Suckling

Adelaide: 14.8 (92) - K Tippett 4, T Walker 4, R Henderson, G Johncock, J Porplyzia, R Sloane, B Smith, N van Berlo

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, vic, australia, adelaide-5000, sa, melbourne-3000

First posted September 22, 2012 19:56:51

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Name of the game for a Crows champion

By James Coventry

Updated September 21, 2012 12:53:47

Ever heard of the dentist called Dr Tooth? What about the librarian named Mrs Read?

They're perfect examples of "nominative determinism" - the idea that someone's name reflects, or even influences, key aspects of their career or character.

The sporting fields have provided fertile ground for the theory.

There are two of the managers in English soccer's Premier League: Arsene Wenger of Arsenal and Roberto Mancini of Man City.

Then there's the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt.

In recent days, amid the sad circumstances of John McCarthy's memorial service at Alberton, we became acquainted with Port Adelaide's club chaplain, Brandon Chaplin.

And at Adelaide's other AFL club, a well-named player is preparing for what could be his final game.

The Crows' doughty defender, Michael Doughty.

Could there be a more perfect adjective for the 33-year-old footballer?

These days every AFL player who has ever laced up a boot tends to be described by the media as a "star". As a 13-season, 230-game veteran, Doughty is probably more deserving of the tag than most. But it doesn't sit well.

He's unfashionable, but uncompromising. Reliable and respected.

This weekend he'll help marshal Adelaide's injury-depleted defence against Hawthorn's potent forward-line in his fourth preliminary final appearance.

He's told the ABC they'll have their hands full with the likes of All-Australians Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli.

"Obviously you've got to give great respect to those players, Buddy and Cyril, they're pretty dangerous - and Roughy when he goes up there. So it's about that team defence, everyone playing their role and helping each other out."

"You can't just rely on one bloke to shut Buddy down. We're going to have a few blokes obviously that will roll through there during the day."

Doughty is retiring at the end of the season. Few pundits are giving the Crows much chance against the Hawks and there's a big chance it could be his final bow.

But he wants his last game to be his first Grand Final.

"We're not done yet and I think the boys really realise we've got a great opportunity again. We're playing in a prelim and anything can happen."

"We take great confidence out of the way we played against Fremantle and we're going over to Melbourne with great confidence and we're going to really put it to Hawthorn."

Doughty has been a fitting name for Michael. The Crows are hoping to give him a fitting farewell, on the last Saturday in September.

Tags: australian-football-league, human-interest, offbeat, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted September 21, 2012 12:53:47

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Crows confirm Petrenko fit for prelim

Updated September 21, 2012 17:24:22

Tenacious Adelaide forward Jared Petrenko has survived a fitness test on his troublesome shoulder and will play in Saturday's preliminary final against Hawthorn.

Petrenko dislocated his right shoulder in the last minutes of Adelaide's semi-final victory against Fremantle last Friday night.

The 22-year-old was given a searching test on Friday behind closed doors before joining his Crows team-mates on their flight to Melbourne.

Adelaide's strategy and innovation coach Dean Bailey said Petrenko was "ready to go" for the knockout MCG final against the Hawks.

"We put him through a pretty vigorous test today, of wrestling and tackling," Bailey told reporters at Adelaide airport.

"Not that we needed too much convincing, but we just needed to see him do it at absolute top speed and we saw that.

Unless something unforeseen happens in the next 24 hours, he'll line-up."

The Crows made one change to their semi-final side, with Andy Otten replacing injured defender Sam Shaw (hamstring).

But Bailey said the Crows could make a late change, with tall forward Josh Jenkins being considered to stretch an under-sized Hawthorn defence.

"It's going to be a sunny day in Melbourne tomorrow so maybe Josh Jenkins might get an opportunity, another tall forward," Bailey said.

" ... Our tall forwards will probably be the question on their (Hawthorn) whiteboard, I would think.

"Those possibilities are still on the table for us before the game."

Bailey dismissed as irrelevant Hawthorn's hot favouritism for the match, but needled the Hawks by suggesting their weekend off may work in Adelaide's favour.

"There is no doubt that the weekend off is deserved when you win a (qualifying) final and it certainly does freshen you up," he said.

"We hope to be on our toes at the start and hopefully they might be a bit rusty at the start.

"We have got to take advantage of that - any opportunity we can, particularly in the early stages, we have got to make sure we get scoreboard pressure.

"The talk out of Melbourne is that they (Hawthorn) have got one hand on the premiership cup ... the bookies have made it very loud and clear about where they see it.

"But once the ball is bounced, it will be who can win it and who can use it and take their opportunities."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted September 21, 2012 16:46:16

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Walker leads Crows to finals win

Updated September 15, 2012 11:48:41

Enigmatic forward Taylor Walker inspired Adelaide to a comeback 10-point victory over Fremantle in Friday night's semi-final.

Walker kicked five goals and set up another as the Crows overcame a fast-starting Fremantle to win 12.9 (81) to 11.5 (71) at Football Park.

Adelaide booked a preliminary final against Hawthorn next Saturday night by surviving an early ambush from Fremantle, whose season ended with the defeat.

Four of Walker's majors were clutch set shots, while fellow forward Jason Porplyzia potted three goals.

Fremantle's Chris Mayne also booted three goals and he was instrumental in the Dockers replicating their blazing start against Geelong last week.

The Dockers blitzed the Cats with a seven-goal opening term in their elimination final win.

And against Adelaide, Mayne kicked two goals in the initial three minutes of the game - a period in which the Crows logged just one disposal, a handball clanger.

His livewire team-mate Michael Walters goaled in the 12th minute of the opening term to leave the Crows shell-shocked.

Walters kicked another late in the quarter to create a 4.1 to 1.3 lead at quarter-time for the visitors.

Mayne slotted his third, and Hayden Ballantyne crumbed a goal inside four minutes of the second quarter to create a commanding 29-point advantage for the Dockers.

Adelaide appeared set to become the first club in 15 years to finish second and exit the finals with 'straight sets' losses.

But Walker triggered a stunning turnaround as the Crows responded with five of the next six goals - with the key Crow kicking three of them himself.

The Adelaide spearhead threaded a tight 40-metre set shot after the half-time siren to edge the Crows within 13 points.

Adelaide skipper Nathan van Berlo admitted this was a pivotal moment in the game.

"The boys came in with real positive energy at half-time," van Berlo said.

"A lot of the talk was 'we're coming hard at them'.

"There was a genuine belief. Taylor stood up a good few times.

"He's come along way this year but to stand up like he did ... in a big game speaks volumes for his leadership and his development."

After the break, Walker scored from near-identical opportunities - converting long set shots after strong overhead marks - as Adelaide crept within one point.

Utility Matthew Wright ran into an open goal in the 18th minute as the Crows hit the front for the first time in the match, and they held a five-point buffer at three quarter-time.

The Dockers weren't done with, posting two quick goals to open scoring in the last term and steal a seven-point advantage.

But with Walker again prominent, the Crows kicked the last four goals to keep their season alive.

Walker booted two of those, including a goal from the square in the 24th minute which was the final nail in Fremantle's coffin.

The only downside of victory was Jared Petrenko suffering an injury just before the final siren. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit to face the Hawks.

Adelaide: 12.9 (81) - Goals: T Walker 5, J Porplyzia 3, Dangerfield, Tippett, Vince, Wright

Fremantle: 11.5 (71) - Goals: C Mayne 3, M Walters 3, H Ballantyne, N Fyfe, G Ibbotson, M Pavlich, N Suban

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, fremantle-6160

First posted September 14, 2012 23:23:11

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Crows believe they can upset Hawks

Updated September 15, 2012 18:28:51

The Crows fancy their chances of upsetting flag favourites Hawthorn in next Saturday's preliminary final, according to Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson.

Adelaide pipped Fremantle by 10 points in Friday night's semi-final to set up a MCG meeting with the Hawks.

The Crows enter the fixture rank outsiders to advance to the grand final - a scenario which suits Sanderson.

"The belief has always been there," Sanderson said after Adelaide ended Fremantle's season with a 12.9 (81) to 11.5 (75) triumph at Football Park.

"The doubt comes externally.

"I have got tremendous belief in our playing group.

"And the assistant coaches have been fantastic this week in reminding our players that their best is good enough.

"We will certainly have to be at our best next week.

"Hawthorn, with the week off, in Melbourne - we'll certainly be the underdogs.

"But we'll certainly go over there really confident after our second half," he said, referring to Adelaide outscoring the Dockers eight goals to four after half-time in the semi-final.

The comeback victory ensured the Crows avoided becoming the first club in 15 years to finish second and exit the finals with consecutive finals losses, but Sanderson cautioned against overly celebrating the win.

"It's important we understand we have just won a semi-final and that puts us in a position to play in a prelim," he said.

"So you enjoy it, we review it, and then we get on with our next opponent.

"The season's not over for us.

"As happy as we feel now and as relieved as we feel it's important to get back to business now, recover well, review, and we'll get on with the Hawks as soon as we can."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted September 15, 2012 14:18:13

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