Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman has dispelled claims the Crows have lacked openness and transparency about injuries in season 2018.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning after the Club’s acquisition of the Adelaide Bite Baseball Club, Chapman stated there was ‘no agenda to conceal injury’ and the reality is circumstances can quickly change.
“I can’t see where there’s an advantage for us in concealing an injury,” he said.
“I’ve talked to Don [Pyke] pretty regularly, I ask him those questions and the response he gives me is things change.
“He can sit here at a press conference post-training (and) by the time he gets back to the change rooms and the boys have warmed-down after doing a 40-minute high intensity training session, there could have been, like there has been, a couple of instances he didn’t know about that he discovers 20 minutes later.
“What I’ve now learned is things change, and things change rapidly.
“But please don’t for a moment think we’re lying about that or hiding those things. There’s nothing to be gained from it. We don’t play games. So that’s my response.”
Chapman also explained the management of Brad Crouch's groin soreness, with the Club entrusting multiple medical specialists before opting for the surgical path.
“Would Channel 7 know, or would the four internal and external medically trained professionals have a better idea?,” he said.
“At the time four weeks ago, surgery was an option, but it wasn’t the best option then.
“It might have been Thursday or Friday of last week, that those four specialists in the area that is concerning Brad had reached a conclusion that 'okay, we’ve given it the best shot, and now surgery is required.'
“Brad had surgery yesterday and it was successful. So that’s how that transpired.
“That’s classic of what I was talking to you about – things change and it’s hard to control.”