Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

South Australia's Crows chairman and chief executive apologise to Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins amid training camp fallout

Former Crows players Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins have criticised a pre-season training camp where they had negative experiences. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

Adelaide Crows' chairman and chief executive have apologised to former players Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins over their experience at the controversial 2018 pre-season training camp.

Adelaide Football Club chairman John Olsen and chief executive Tim Silvers have penned an open letter to club members and fans after Betts' released a book last week revealing how confidential information was used to verbally abuse him during the camp

Former Crows Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs also expressed their disappointment at the camp and how players were sworn to secrecy about what had occurred.

"We apologise to Eddie, Josh and any other player, coach or staff member, who had a negative experience during this time," Olsen and Silvers wrote.

"It has been confronting to hear Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins describe their experiences during the 2018 pre-season training camp on the Gold Coast, as well as the subsequent hurt they have carried.

"Equally we are sorry to hear Bryce Gibbs express his disappointment at the way in which the camp and events surrounding it were handled and its impact on the playing group, and we acknowledge there are others who may feel the same way.

"The most important thing we can do now is listen and offer our support."

Adelaide Crows chief executive Tim Silvers apologised to Eddie Betts last week. (ABC News: Camron Slessor)

Olsen and Silvers said "moving on" as a club would be "difficult". 

"Everyone will do it in their own time and in their own way, and we sincerely hope that, with the passage of time, the healing process can take place," they wrote.

"We are committed to emerging from this painful and challenging period and getting better.

"While we cannot rewrite history, we remain determined to learn from the past."

The pair stressed that the club culture had shifted in the past few years, with changes to several leadership positions.

Coach Don Pyke (left) and Crows chairman Rob Chapman (right) have since left the club. (ABC News)

Then-coach Don Pyke, head of football Brett Burton, chairman Rob Chapman and chief executive Andrew Fagan have since left their roles.

The camp was held after Adelaide's defeat to Richmond in the 2017 Grand Final. 

Silvers and AFL boss Gillon McLachlan have apologised to Betts for the hurt caused by the camp amid a potential class action. 

Betts' biography further detailed misappropriate use of Aboriginal rituals while Jenkins claimed details about his upbringing were used against him during the camp, despite him explicitly requested it not be shared.

The AFL and SafeWork SA completed separated investigations and found no breaches to work safety laws.

However, the AFL Players' Association is contacting all players from the 2018 camp to gain better understanding of the issues that were raised.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.