Lawyer says ‘extraordinary’ Crows camp findings show SafeWork SA has ‘no rules’

A lawyer privy to controversial events that took place at the Adelaide Crows infamous 2018 preseason camp has slammed SafeWork SA for clearing the club of any wrongdoing, claiming others would have been prosecuted over the incidents.

The workplace health and safety regulator yesterday announced it had completed a one-year investigation into a camp that set out to be psychologically testing after the Crows’ 2017 grand final capitulation to Richmond, but found no breach of the relevant act had occurred.

But lawyer Greg Griffin, a former sport administrator and Adelaide United owner, said he had been made fully aware of what happened at the camp — after giving several people legal advice — and was “extraordinarily surprised” by SafeWork SA’s finding.

“If what occurred on that camp does not constitute conduct that SafeWork SA should have brought some prosecution over, then I’ve completely misunderstood their role,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“If I had done that to my staff, I would expect and quite possibly so, to be charged.

The Gold Coast camp has caused lingering tensions within the playing group and has had a negative impact on Indigenous players.

The full details of what occurred have not been made public, and the club and the Melbourne-based training specialists that ran the camp, Collective Mind, have denied some of the media speculation it sparked.

This included rumours that Crows players were subjected to the Richmond Tigers’ theme song on a loop after getting unexpectedly belted by the Victorian side in Adelaide’s first grand final appearance in 19 years.

Players won’t talk

In a short statement, the Crows yesterday said it now considered the matter closed because neither the club, “nor any person or organisation breached any work health and safety laws during or in relation to the club”.

Mr Griffin, however, said it would be a “very brave” player who actually came forward to shed light on the rumours and take action against the club.

“If you were to take action against the AFL, who own the Crows, then I would imagine that unless you had stopped playing football and had no intention of doing anything further in football, then you’d be taking a very brave step.

“The AFL is a very tight organisation — they are rewarding of those who play by their rules and I think they’re equally unforgiving of those who they perceive as crossing the line.”

Mr Griffin said SafeWork SA’s findings did not approach the outcome that the affected players and people were “entitled to receive”.

‘Fantastical tales of abuse’

But Collective Mind co-owner Amon Woulfe said the findings were a relief after SafeWork SA’s “intensely rigorous” 12-month investigation, during which it looked “under every stone”.

He said there had now been several investigations into the camp and the SA regulator had drawn a “final line” under it saying ” there’s nothing to see”.

“Could we have changed a few things? Sure, like any program,” Mr Woulfe said.

“Would we have improved a few things? Sure.

Mr Woulfe said the club’s brief had requested items broader than what Collective Mind typically offered so they brought in external facilitators and organisations to deliver the “core parts of the program”.

“We really sat over the program with the club, planning with the club, at a high level,” he said.

“There was a massive duty of care put into player welfare from the beginning.

“The programs at Collective Mind haven’t changed and I still completely have confidence in and support the organisations that we brought in to run what they run.”

Legal action to be launched

Mr Woulfe added, however, that Collective Mind intended to take legal action against media organisations behind some of the most “inflammatory reporting” on the camp.

In a joint statement with co-owner Derek Liddie, he said the “false and sustained allegations have had significant impacts on our business, our brand and our personal reputations”.

“We fully understand the important role the media plays in sport, however, the media has an obligation to make sure its facts are correct,” Mr Woulfe said.

“We are still yet to receive any sort of retraction or public apology, and we will be seeking appropriate legal redress.”

He said he remained proud of what was achieved at the camp, with “moments and memories that will last a lifetime”.

Source: AFL NEWS ABC