Adelaide Crows chairman says any move against club as hypothetical

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Adelaide Crows chairman says any move against club as hypothetical

Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen says the club has not sought legal advice despite the talk of a class action in the wake of Eddie Betts' claims about a controversial 2018 training camp.

In a statement by Olsen, the club described any move against the club as hypothetical and defended the way the club had responded in the seven days since the publication of Betts' memoir The Boy from Boomerang Crescent.

The book details Betts' anxiety and anger after the preseason camp, and prompted former Crow Josh Jenkins to speak out as well.

Adelaide lawyer Greg Griffin said that he had begun investigating a potential class action against the club, on behalf of several players who attended the camp.

He said that any action would be brought to the Supreme Court of Victoria, which requires a minimum of seven group members to bring and maintain a class action.

The number of persons or players is well in excess of the number we need. Mr Olsen, who earlier this week issued a public apology to Betts and Jenkins, told ABC Radio Adelaide that such a development would be addressed if and when it happened.

It is hypothetical because until it takes place, it is not fact, and we'll address the issue at that time, he said.

Mr Olsen said he had spoken to all of the club's board members in the past week, but issues for discussion did not include the position of board member Mark Ricciuto, who said on his Triple M breakfast show last week that the club had moved on from the camp.

Mark's position on the board was not discussed at the meeting over the weekend. That's not on my agenda at the moment, according to Olsen.

Two years after the now infamous camp, Olsen joined the club in 2020.

The former SA premier denied that the club had tried to conceal the controversy at the time, and said that player welfare was the current priority. A number of individuals indicated to me they had a very positive experience at the camp.

The fact that confidential information given by a player is used in front of others at the camp is inexcusable.

Since the publication of Betts' book, Mr Olsen has confined himself to individual interviews and statements rather than holding a media conference, an approach he defended.

He said that I have made myself available across the board, to radio, print and television.

Shortly after Eddie Betts' book had been released, and his comments on chapter 17, Chief Executive Tim Silvers was immediately available and immediately apologised for his comments on that Wednesday.