Drugs Are Bad Mackay?
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Present: Stephen Trigg (CEO), Neil Craig (senior coach) and David Burtenshaw (media and communications)
Stephen Trigg: Righto guys… Mission: Damage Control. This whole fortnight has been a PR disaster.
David Burtenshaw: You’re right. Three players suspended, our captain called it quits after nine games and we completely botched the Edwards retirement.
Neil Craig: We beat Brisbane.
Stephen Trigg: The media vultures are circling and they’re ripping us to shreds.
David Burtenshaw: We are copping an absolute pasting. Players walking out on the club, the coach bending his principles and then being praised for it by the chairman… we’re all over the shop.
Stephen Trigg: The board are asking questions. Who’s in charge? Me… Neil… the players?
David Burtenshaw: It’s a complete disaster. We’re a laughing stock.
Neil Craig: Guys, I think you’re being a bit melodramatic about all this stuff. One or two unfortunate events but they’ll be forgotten soon enough… we beat Brisbane.
David Burtenshaw: I’m sorry Neil but I disagree. We need to take control of the situation and start to set the agenda again. We need to push our messages out there and put an end to all the criticism and speculation.
Stephen Trigg: It would have been such a relief to have beaten to St Kilda. A win takes all the heat off. It’s only temporary but we could have really used the break.
David Burtenshaw: Actually before we get to the Tyson Edwards saga, the St Kilda game unearthed another issue. Neil, those fitness comments you made after the game. Is Schwerdty in the gun now?
Neil Craig: No… why do you say that?
David Burtenshaw: Well, you said after the game that we aren’t fit enough, that players need to get more work into them, that some are struggling to deal with the effect of injuries, they’re behind on their conditioning… that’s all Schwerdty’s department isn’t it?
Neil Craig: Yeah it is, but don’t worry. We are conducting a thorough review.
David Burtenshaw: Who’s conducting the review?
Neil Craig: …Schwerdty is.
David Burtenshaw: So he’s reviewing himself?
Neil Craig: It’s called self analysis, David. You’re your own harshest critic remember. I know I review myself all the time.
Stephen Trigg: Really? How are you going?
David Burtenshaw: Solid?
Neil Craig: No David. For your information there are some areas I need to improve but I’m aware of them and I’m working on them on the track.
David Burtenshaw: I don’t think the public are going to buy an internal review. I think they’ll want a bit more objectivity and accountability than that. Is there someone from outside the club we can use?
Neil Craig: Maybe John Reid? Or David Parkin?
David Burtenshaw: I was thinking maybe someone you aren’t best friends with.
Stephen Trigg: Gary Ayers?
David Burtenshaw: Taylor Walker?
Stephen Trigg: Tyson Edwards?
Neil Craig: Having fun guys?
David Burtenshaw: Sorry Neil. But I’d strongly suggest an external, independent review be conducted of the entire football department. Would be excellent PR.
Stephen Trigg: That’s probably wise David. Even if we don’t end up changing anything it would be nice to at least look busy. And if we go badly next season then we can blame whoever conducted the review. Ok, which crisis shall we deal with first?
David Burtenshaw: Well, the Edwards issue is the big one. We’ve got to get our story straight. Shall we go though it top to bottom?
Stephen Trigg: Yeah, let’s clear that up once and for all... got very messy last week.
David Burtenshaw: So, Neil – I just want to get a clear picture of how this was handled. Wednesday night was team selection and Edwards was dropped?
Neil Craig: No, he was part of the 25.
David Burtenshaw: But he was dropped from the team?
Neil Craig: We hadn’t named the final team yet.
David Burtenshaw: But Cook and Gunston were in the 25 and knew they’d be playing SANFL?
Neil Craig: Yes.
David Burtenshaw: So we had named a final 22 then?
Neil Craig: …No.
David Burtenshaw: Well how did those guys know they were going to be playing SANFL then?
Neil Craig: Look… before we go any further, I think the important thing here is that we don’t play the blame game.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, you have to stop being so evasive. I need to know exactly what happened so that I can plan our media strategy. I’m not after scapegoats, just facts.
Stephen Trigg: I think I can summarise for you Neil… Edwards was likely to be an emergency against St Kilda.
Neil Craig: That’s right. But he hadn’t been officially dropped yet.
David Burtenshaw: Was he going to be?
Neil Craig: Yeah.
David Burtenshaw: What was his reaction?
Neil Craig: Well… he understood that there are some things he needed to improv-
David Burtenshaw: Neil – c’mon. He’s played 320 games… improvement? He is what he is surely. What did he say when you told him he wasn’t going to play against St Kilda?
Neil Craig: Well…
David Burtenshaw: Did he agree that he was no longer in the best 22?
Neil Craig: I think he agreed… but I don’t think he could bring himself to acknowledge it out loud. Instead he pointed out how quiet Petrenko had been lately.
David Burtenshaw: Hmmm… sort of makes a mockery over our ‘selfless’ labeling of his retirement to open up a spot for a youngster... we might keep that one under wraps. Neil, people are saying that this was an insulting treatment of a club legend. Did you honestly expect him to go to Mannum on a Sunday afternoon to play for Westies?
Neil Craig: No, I offered him the travelling emergency position… and a window seat next to me on the plane there and back.
David Burtenshaw: Did he accept?
Neil Craig: No, he said something like… (trying to remember) blunt spoon... rather poke his eyes out… or give Rachel McLeod a foot massage… and then he said that he wanted to retire.
David Burtenshaw: Did he flat out ask you for a farewell game?
Neil Craig: …No.
David Burtenshaw: What did he say?
Neil Craig: Well, he said “Neil, can I have a farewell game?” … But you can interpret that in a number of ways.
David Burtenshaw: Like what?
Neil Craig: Well… a motorcade. A game for Westies. A testimonial dinner. I didn’t know what he meant by ‘farewell’ and I can’t guarantee any of that stuff… cars on the oval have to be cleared with security not to mention Toyota need to be involved in the proces-
David Burtenshaw: So what did you say?
Neil Craig: I said that I couldn’t guarantee anything.
Stephen Trigg: Surely you knew he meant a farewell Crows game? You could have slipped him in to the team couldn’t you?
Neil Craig: What if we’d beaten St Kilda and everyone had played well? I wouldn’t have wanted to drop anyone.
Stephen Trigg: Neil, c’mon. We were always going to get thrashed.
David Burtenshaw: And I don’t think people would have believed that you couldn’t bring yourself to drop any players, especially with Walker in the 22. And you drop Armstrong every second week anyway. So what happened next? Edwards announced his retirement; effective immediately; we named our team without him...?
Stephen Trigg: Then the shit hit the fan
David Burtenshaw: The media went nuts. Our fan base went nuts. Talkback went nuts. And then a few hours later you backflipped?
Neil Craig: I didn’t backflip, David. I just made a different decision... based on the same facts.
David Burtenshaw: We really need to get away from saying ‘backflip’ with all the negative connotations it brings. It signifies weakness, indecisiveness, uncertainty, unsure of yourself… we need something much stronger to describe the change of heart. Shall we brainstorm a few?
Neil Craig: How about ‘reaffirmed my position.’
David Burtenshaw: That’s a bit… wanky.
Stephen Trigg: ‘Back pedal?’
David Burtenshaw: That’s really the same as backflip.
Neil Craig: (snaps fingers) I’ve got it; ‘refined my approach.’
David Burtenshaw: …still wanky, Neil. ‘Second thoughts’ maybe?
Neil Craig: Is wanky even a word?
Stephen Trigg: ‘Retreat?’
David Burtenshaw: That’s worse than backflip.
Stephen Trigg: Sorry. This is hard. Maybe it would be easier if we went back to your original decision and don’t give him a farewell game?
David Burtenshaw: Hmmm… a double backflip? Is that more or less decisive than a backflip?
Neil Craig: That’s worse surely.
David Burtenshaw: You’re right. We’ll stick with your original decision.
Stephen Trigg: Hang on… Neil’s original decision or his backflip decision?
David Burtenshaw: His original backflip decision.
Stephen Trigg: So not his original decision or his double backflip decision?
David Burtenshaw: …that’s right.
Stephen Trigg: So is Tyson getting a farewell game or not?
Neil Craig: Buggered if I know. I’m afraid you’ve lost me David.
David Burtenshaw: (rolls eyes) Yes, he is. And I think we’ll stay with ‘backflip’ after all.
Stephen Trigg: Ok, good. Decisive. Strong leadership. Well done everyone.
David Burtenshaw: Can we get back to the reasons for the backflip? People are very curious about the chain of events on Thursday afternoon and evening. There’s a lot of innuendo out there about a player-led revolt.
Neil Craig: I think I can put that one to bed. I simply mulled the information over and over in my mind, decided that my initial decision was a bit harsh and that I would give him a farewell game after all. I gave Tyson a call and it was all sorted. End of story.
David Burtenshaw: So you decided independently to change your mind and give him a farewell game?
Neil Craig: Well I did speak to some of the senior players
David Burtenshaw: And what did they say?
Neil Craig: That they thought Tyson deserved a farewell game… that I was sticking to the letter of my ‘best 22’ rule rather than the spirit… that it was important for the culture of the club that players and supporters be allowed to say their goodbyes… that I would lose the respect of the players if I didn’t relent…
David Burtenshaw: So it was a player-driven response?
Neil Craig: No, they just reinforced some of the things I had already been thinking about.
David Burtenshaw: So what happened next?
Stephen Trigg: Neil came running into my office during training.
Neil Craig: I wasn’t running.
Stephen Trigg: You were out of breath. And you were crying too. I knew something big was up.
Neil Craig: You know I get hayfever, Stephen.
Stephen Trigg: He was blubbering something about making a terrible mistake and the players threatening to walk out. Neil said that we had to give Tyson a farewell game and I agreed. I’d been listening to 5AA – it was unbelievable. We made the call to Tyson and that was it.
Neil Craig: That phone call did the trick. It was like disarming a missile. Problem solved.
David Burtenshaw: Well not really… the missile had already gone off. Just back on the senior players who approached you for a second… are you sure they weren’t just saying that because they all want a farewell game when their time comes too?
Stephen Trigg: Hey… you might be right. How many of these bloody things are we going to end up having?
Neil Craig: This is the only one.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, you’ve set a precedent now.
Neil Craig: No, no. This is just an isolated exception to the rule. It won’t happen again.
David Burtenshaw: What about McLeod?
Neil Craig: Yeah, we’d probably give him a farewell game if he asked.
David Burtenshaw: Hentschel?
Neil Craig: Well he deserves one surely, after all he’s been through.
David Burtenshaw: Burton?
Neil Craig: The fan favourite… he’s got to fly one more time.
David Burtenshaw: And we’ll have Goodwin in Round 22 as well. Doughty?
Neil Craig: It would be cruel for him to miss out if everyone else is getting one.
David Burtenshaw: So that’s six exceptions to the rule?
Neil Craig: Six exceptions, but that’s it. I’m putting my foot down after that.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, you have to understand that this looks really bad.
Neil Craig: How do you mean?
David Burtenshaw: Well, disregarding your key principles with selection for one thing. Plus the leadership group having to tap you on the shoulder to get training changed and now confronting you to get you to recognise the career of a senior player. And you’ve bowed down to their wishes each time. At the end of the day, the players are paid to play football. You’re paid to coach. Why are they so involved in the decision-making?
Neil Craig: I would think that it’s a strength that the players are so comfortable with me as coach that they can approach me with their ideas.
David Burtenshaw: There’s a fine line though between players offering up a few ideas and them walking all over you. I've warned you about this. Player power is such a foreign concept in the football community… the public don’t want to see an Ivan Maric making strategic off-field decisions. I mean… ask him a few maths questions.
Neil Craig: If the players are going to fully embrace the team concept, then they need to have ownership over the decision-making process.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, these are the same players who get in a punch up when they get short-changed buying a yiros. Are you sure you want them making decisions on your behalf? You’re the one who is going to be judged on the results, not them.
<brief pause>
David Burtenshaw: (thinking) Let me ask you… this player-ownership, Leading Teams stuff… the Board are sold on it aren’t they?
Neil Craig: Yes, they’re behind it 100%.
David Burtenshaw: So, if things go badly can’t you just say that the players made some poor choices? Essentially you’re immune from criticism.
Neil Craig: Well, I don’t think I’m exactly immune from criticism. Have you listened to 5AA lately?
David Burtenshaw: I’m talking internally. You’ve spread the responsibility across all the players and the other coaches and in doing so you’ve spread the accountability too. If it doesn’t work you can just say to the Board, well, you guys gave it the green light. They can’t criticise you without indirectly accepting the blame themselves.
Stephen Trigg: That’s… genius.
Neil Craig: (winks) Sports science isn’t just exercise bikes and colostrum you know.
David Burtenshaw: People are going to catch on eventually.
Neil Craig: Oh really? Which one of The Advertiser’s pack of bloodhounds is going to sniff it out? Jesper? Remember when he came in to interview me last week? He couldn’t even open his briefcase. We’ll have an indoor stadium in the CBD before I get the arse.
Stephen Trigg: Righto guys… Mission: Damage Control. This whole fortnight has been a PR disaster.
David Burtenshaw: You’re right. Three players suspended, our captain called it quits after nine games and we completely botched the Edwards retirement.
Neil Craig: We beat Brisbane.
Stephen Trigg: The media vultures are circling and they’re ripping us to shreds.
David Burtenshaw: We are copping an absolute pasting. Players walking out on the club, the coach bending his principles and then being praised for it by the chairman… we’re all over the shop.
Stephen Trigg: The board are asking questions. Who’s in charge? Me… Neil… the players?
David Burtenshaw: It’s a complete disaster. We’re a laughing stock.
Neil Craig: Guys, I think you’re being a bit melodramatic about all this stuff. One or two unfortunate events but they’ll be forgotten soon enough… we beat Brisbane.
David Burtenshaw: I’m sorry Neil but I disagree. We need to take control of the situation and start to set the agenda again. We need to push our messages out there and put an end to all the criticism and speculation.
Stephen Trigg: It would have been such a relief to have beaten to St Kilda. A win takes all the heat off. It’s only temporary but we could have really used the break.
David Burtenshaw: Actually before we get to the Tyson Edwards saga, the St Kilda game unearthed another issue. Neil, those fitness comments you made after the game. Is Schwerdty in the gun now?
Neil Craig: No… why do you say that?
David Burtenshaw: Well, you said after the game that we aren’t fit enough, that players need to get more work into them, that some are struggling to deal with the effect of injuries, they’re behind on their conditioning… that’s all Schwerdty’s department isn’t it?
Neil Craig: Yeah it is, but don’t worry. We are conducting a thorough review.
David Burtenshaw: Who’s conducting the review?
Neil Craig: …Schwerdty is.
David Burtenshaw: So he’s reviewing himself?
Neil Craig: It’s called self analysis, David. You’re your own harshest critic remember. I know I review myself all the time.
Stephen Trigg: Really? How are you going?
David Burtenshaw: Solid?
Neil Craig: No David. For your information there are some areas I need to improve but I’m aware of them and I’m working on them on the track.
David Burtenshaw: I don’t think the public are going to buy an internal review. I think they’ll want a bit more objectivity and accountability than that. Is there someone from outside the club we can use?
Neil Craig: Maybe John Reid? Or David Parkin?
David Burtenshaw: I was thinking maybe someone you aren’t best friends with.
Stephen Trigg: Gary Ayers?
David Burtenshaw: Taylor Walker?
Stephen Trigg: Tyson Edwards?
Neil Craig: Having fun guys?
David Burtenshaw: Sorry Neil. But I’d strongly suggest an external, independent review be conducted of the entire football department. Would be excellent PR.
Stephen Trigg: That’s probably wise David. Even if we don’t end up changing anything it would be nice to at least look busy. And if we go badly next season then we can blame whoever conducted the review. Ok, which crisis shall we deal with first?
David Burtenshaw: Well, the Edwards issue is the big one. We’ve got to get our story straight. Shall we go though it top to bottom?
Stephen Trigg: Yeah, let’s clear that up once and for all... got very messy last week.
David Burtenshaw: So, Neil – I just want to get a clear picture of how this was handled. Wednesday night was team selection and Edwards was dropped?
Neil Craig: No, he was part of the 25.
David Burtenshaw: But he was dropped from the team?
Neil Craig: We hadn’t named the final team yet.
David Burtenshaw: But Cook and Gunston were in the 25 and knew they’d be playing SANFL?
Neil Craig: Yes.
David Burtenshaw: So we had named a final 22 then?
Neil Craig: …No.
David Burtenshaw: Well how did those guys know they were going to be playing SANFL then?
Neil Craig: Look… before we go any further, I think the important thing here is that we don’t play the blame game.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, you have to stop being so evasive. I need to know exactly what happened so that I can plan our media strategy. I’m not after scapegoats, just facts.
Stephen Trigg: I think I can summarise for you Neil… Edwards was likely to be an emergency against St Kilda.
Neil Craig: That’s right. But he hadn’t been officially dropped yet.
David Burtenshaw: Was he going to be?
Neil Craig: Yeah.
David Burtenshaw: What was his reaction?
Neil Craig: Well… he understood that there are some things he needed to improv-
David Burtenshaw: Neil – c’mon. He’s played 320 games… improvement? He is what he is surely. What did he say when you told him he wasn’t going to play against St Kilda?
Neil Craig: Well…
David Burtenshaw: Did he agree that he was no longer in the best 22?
Neil Craig: I think he agreed… but I don’t think he could bring himself to acknowledge it out loud. Instead he pointed out how quiet Petrenko had been lately.
David Burtenshaw: Hmmm… sort of makes a mockery over our ‘selfless’ labeling of his retirement to open up a spot for a youngster... we might keep that one under wraps. Neil, people are saying that this was an insulting treatment of a club legend. Did you honestly expect him to go to Mannum on a Sunday afternoon to play for Westies?
Neil Craig: No, I offered him the travelling emergency position… and a window seat next to me on the plane there and back.
David Burtenshaw: Did he accept?
Neil Craig: No, he said something like… (trying to remember) blunt spoon... rather poke his eyes out… or give Rachel McLeod a foot massage… and then he said that he wanted to retire.
David Burtenshaw: Did he flat out ask you for a farewell game?
Neil Craig: …No.
David Burtenshaw: What did he say?
Neil Craig: Well, he said “Neil, can I have a farewell game?” … But you can interpret that in a number of ways.
David Burtenshaw: Like what?
Neil Craig: Well… a motorcade. A game for Westies. A testimonial dinner. I didn’t know what he meant by ‘farewell’ and I can’t guarantee any of that stuff… cars on the oval have to be cleared with security not to mention Toyota need to be involved in the proces-
David Burtenshaw: So what did you say?
Neil Craig: I said that I couldn’t guarantee anything.
Stephen Trigg: Surely you knew he meant a farewell Crows game? You could have slipped him in to the team couldn’t you?
Neil Craig: What if we’d beaten St Kilda and everyone had played well? I wouldn’t have wanted to drop anyone.
Stephen Trigg: Neil, c’mon. We were always going to get thrashed.
David Burtenshaw: And I don’t think people would have believed that you couldn’t bring yourself to drop any players, especially with Walker in the 22. And you drop Armstrong every second week anyway. So what happened next? Edwards announced his retirement; effective immediately; we named our team without him...?
Stephen Trigg: Then the shit hit the fan
David Burtenshaw: The media went nuts. Our fan base went nuts. Talkback went nuts. And then a few hours later you backflipped?
Neil Craig: I didn’t backflip, David. I just made a different decision... based on the same facts.
David Burtenshaw: We really need to get away from saying ‘backflip’ with all the negative connotations it brings. It signifies weakness, indecisiveness, uncertainty, unsure of yourself… we need something much stronger to describe the change of heart. Shall we brainstorm a few?
Neil Craig: How about ‘reaffirmed my position.’
David Burtenshaw: That’s a bit… wanky.
Stephen Trigg: ‘Back pedal?’
David Burtenshaw: That’s really the same as backflip.
Neil Craig: (snaps fingers) I’ve got it; ‘refined my approach.’
David Burtenshaw: …still wanky, Neil. ‘Second thoughts’ maybe?
Neil Craig: Is wanky even a word?
Stephen Trigg: ‘Retreat?’
David Burtenshaw: That’s worse than backflip.
Stephen Trigg: Sorry. This is hard. Maybe it would be easier if we went back to your original decision and don’t give him a farewell game?
David Burtenshaw: Hmmm… a double backflip? Is that more or less decisive than a backflip?
Neil Craig: That’s worse surely.
David Burtenshaw: You’re right. We’ll stick with your original decision.
Stephen Trigg: Hang on… Neil’s original decision or his backflip decision?
David Burtenshaw: His original backflip decision.
Stephen Trigg: So not his original decision or his double backflip decision?
David Burtenshaw: …that’s right.
Stephen Trigg: So is Tyson getting a farewell game or not?
Neil Craig: Buggered if I know. I’m afraid you’ve lost me David.
David Burtenshaw: (rolls eyes) Yes, he is. And I think we’ll stay with ‘backflip’ after all.
Stephen Trigg: Ok, good. Decisive. Strong leadership. Well done everyone.
David Burtenshaw: Can we get back to the reasons for the backflip? People are very curious about the chain of events on Thursday afternoon and evening. There’s a lot of innuendo out there about a player-led revolt.
Neil Craig: I think I can put that one to bed. I simply mulled the information over and over in my mind, decided that my initial decision was a bit harsh and that I would give him a farewell game after all. I gave Tyson a call and it was all sorted. End of story.
David Burtenshaw: So you decided independently to change your mind and give him a farewell game?
Neil Craig: Well I did speak to some of the senior players
David Burtenshaw: And what did they say?
Neil Craig: That they thought Tyson deserved a farewell game… that I was sticking to the letter of my ‘best 22’ rule rather than the spirit… that it was important for the culture of the club that players and supporters be allowed to say their goodbyes… that I would lose the respect of the players if I didn’t relent…
David Burtenshaw: So it was a player-driven response?
Neil Craig: No, they just reinforced some of the things I had already been thinking about.
David Burtenshaw: So what happened next?
Stephen Trigg: Neil came running into my office during training.
Neil Craig: I wasn’t running.
Stephen Trigg: You were out of breath. And you were crying too. I knew something big was up.
Neil Craig: You know I get hayfever, Stephen.
Stephen Trigg: He was blubbering something about making a terrible mistake and the players threatening to walk out. Neil said that we had to give Tyson a farewell game and I agreed. I’d been listening to 5AA – it was unbelievable. We made the call to Tyson and that was it.
Neil Craig: That phone call did the trick. It was like disarming a missile. Problem solved.
David Burtenshaw: Well not really… the missile had already gone off. Just back on the senior players who approached you for a second… are you sure they weren’t just saying that because they all want a farewell game when their time comes too?
Stephen Trigg: Hey… you might be right. How many of these bloody things are we going to end up having?
Neil Craig: This is the only one.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, you’ve set a precedent now.
Neil Craig: No, no. This is just an isolated exception to the rule. It won’t happen again.
David Burtenshaw: What about McLeod?
Neil Craig: Yeah, we’d probably give him a farewell game if he asked.
David Burtenshaw: Hentschel?
Neil Craig: Well he deserves one surely, after all he’s been through.
David Burtenshaw: Burton?
Neil Craig: The fan favourite… he’s got to fly one more time.
David Burtenshaw: And we’ll have Goodwin in Round 22 as well. Doughty?
Neil Craig: It would be cruel for him to miss out if everyone else is getting one.
David Burtenshaw: So that’s six exceptions to the rule?
Neil Craig: Six exceptions, but that’s it. I’m putting my foot down after that.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, you have to understand that this looks really bad.
Neil Craig: How do you mean?
David Burtenshaw: Well, disregarding your key principles with selection for one thing. Plus the leadership group having to tap you on the shoulder to get training changed and now confronting you to get you to recognise the career of a senior player. And you’ve bowed down to their wishes each time. At the end of the day, the players are paid to play football. You’re paid to coach. Why are they so involved in the decision-making?
Neil Craig: I would think that it’s a strength that the players are so comfortable with me as coach that they can approach me with their ideas.
David Burtenshaw: There’s a fine line though between players offering up a few ideas and them walking all over you. I've warned you about this. Player power is such a foreign concept in the football community… the public don’t want to see an Ivan Maric making strategic off-field decisions. I mean… ask him a few maths questions.
Neil Craig: If the players are going to fully embrace the team concept, then they need to have ownership over the decision-making process.
David Burtenshaw: Neil, these are the same players who get in a punch up when they get short-changed buying a yiros. Are you sure you want them making decisions on your behalf? You’re the one who is going to be judged on the results, not them.
<brief pause>
David Burtenshaw: (thinking) Let me ask you… this player-ownership, Leading Teams stuff… the Board are sold on it aren’t they?
Neil Craig: Yes, they’re behind it 100%.
David Burtenshaw: So, if things go badly can’t you just say that the players made some poor choices? Essentially you’re immune from criticism.
Neil Craig: Well, I don’t think I’m exactly immune from criticism. Have you listened to 5AA lately?
David Burtenshaw: I’m talking internally. You’ve spread the responsibility across all the players and the other coaches and in doing so you’ve spread the accountability too. If it doesn’t work you can just say to the Board, well, you guys gave it the green light. They can’t criticise you without indirectly accepting the blame themselves.
Stephen Trigg: That’s… genius.
Neil Craig: (winks) Sports science isn’t just exercise bikes and colostrum you know.
David Burtenshaw: People are going to catch on eventually.
Neil Craig: Oh really? Which one of The Advertiser’s pack of bloodhounds is going to sniff it out? Jesper? Remember when he came in to interview me last week? He couldn’t even open his briefcase. We’ll have an indoor stadium in the CBD before I get the arse.
