ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig deviated from his standards at the selection table to grant retiring veteran Tyson Edwards a farewell game, but says he won’t stray from tradition and use the occasion as motivation for Saturday’s clash with Fremantle.

There was a lot of raw emotion from both inside and outside the club surrounding Edwards’ sudden decision to retire last week, but Craig said he wouldn’t draw on it to rally his troops this weekend.

“We’ve never made a big fuss about 300 game (milestones) or that sort of thing. I don’t think it motivates people and if it does have any positive effect it doesn’t last for very long,” Craig said on Thursday.

“We’ll give Tyson the respect that the record deserves and it’s a fantastic record - 16 seasons and 320 games. I remember when Tyson played his 300th game at Etihad Stadium. I remember when Andrew McLeod played his 300th and when Mark Ricciuto played his 300th. There’s a lot of hype from outside the football club and we recognise that.

“We’re not trying to downplay it. We’re just treating it as we normally would.”

Craig’s popular decision to give Edwards a farewell game has triggered much debate, with some suggesting the club has set a precedent for its other retiring stars.

The Crows will say goodbye to skipper Simon Goodwin, who also announced his retirement last week, at the end of the season and are also faced with the prospect of losing experienced stars Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton should the pair follow Goodwin and Edwards’ lead and decide to hang up the boots.

Craig denied he felt pressure to grant the veteran trio the same concession as Edwards.

“I don’t feel that (I’ve set a precedent) at all. The player that we’re talking about here has given exceptional service. I’m not saying that someone like a Simon Goodwin hasn’t given that, but this is a guy who has played for 16 years and 321 games at a really high level,” Craig said.

“I just think for our football club and for the player, which in this case is Tyson, it’s important that they get recognised. Tyson will appreciate it (on Saturday), but in a few years time he’ll really understand what it means that he can come back into our football club and feel comfortable and like he belongs here.

“That’s part of the exercise to do that and for our supporter base to be able to have the opportunity to say goodbye and thankyou to a guy, who has given exceptional service.”

Edwards will finish his career against Fremantle on Saturday after 321 AFL games.

Craig said the club was fortunate to have had four 300-game players, Edwards, McLeod, Mark Ricciuto and Ben Hart, in its short 20-year history.