Crows football manager Phil Harper says he’s happy to be back at work after completing a two-month suspension.
Harper was banned from having any involvement with the Club for two months as a result of an AFL investigation into Adelaide’s contract with former player Kurt Tippett dating back to 2009.
Harper returned to West Lakes on Friday and said he was keen to move on from the ordeal.
“I’m really excited to be back. I don’t want to reflect on what’s happened too much. I need to look at what I can do from here on to help this team,” Harper said on Friday.
“I love this playing group. I’ve been really buoyed by what I’ve seen in the NAB Cup. They are hungry for success and I’m keen to contribute to that.”
Harper returns to the Club with a re-defined role as general manager football administration. List manager David Noble, who acted as football manager in Harper’s absence, has been promoted to general manager list management and strategy. Harper said the redefining of roles was a natural progression.
“There’s not a huge amount of change really,” he said.
“Because of what’s happened with Dean Bailey, I’ll have to do a bit more on the footy side. Two years ago, Nobes probably did 20 per cent of the contracts and I did 80 per cent. Last year, Nobes probably did 60 per cent and I did 40 per cent – this year he’ll probably do 90 per cent. You can’t do them all yourself because when the whips are cracking there are too many to do and it fits more in his role of list management.
“We can definitely work side by side. He’s a great man, David. I’m really pleased he’s on the management team because it’s good for the Club and that’s what it’s all about.”
Harper said he remained confident in his ability to handle player contracts.
“The AFL investigation was really thorough. They looked at every contract I’ve ever done with the Adelaide Football Club and didn’t find one thing wrong with any contract that I’ve ever done,” he said.
The contract in question was drawn up prior to Harper assuming the role of football manager. But Harper said he’d come to accept the AFL Commission’s ruling.
“Over the last few months I’ve had a lot of time to reflect,” he said.
“A lot of people have said to me, ‘Gee, you’re hard done by because you had nothing to do with that (Tippett’s) deal’. All those people, who have said that to me are family, friends and Crows supporters – they’re all biased.
“I had time to think, who should really judge that? And it should be someone independent, which was the AFL Commission. They made a judgement on it and I accept their decision. (To avoid punishment) I think, as soon as I thought there was anything untoward (in the contract), I would’ve had to go to the AFL.”
