Pre-season purge
ADELAIDE players were repeatedly played the Richmond theme song during their mentally-probing preseason camp on the Gold Coast.
News Corp can reveal a small group of senior Crows were subjected to the yellow and black anthem after being split without warning from the rest of the team.
The earbashing was one of several testing elements of the week-long Queensland trip, which ran from January 29 to February 2.
It comes as Adelaide prepares to face the Tigers, last year’s Grand Final nemesis, at Adelaide Oval without Tom Lynch (virus) and Richard Douglas (suspended).
Sources said the purpose of playing the Richmond song was part of a “cleansing” process after the Crows were humiliated in last year’s decider by 48 points.
Crows coach Don Pyke admitted not all players reacted well to the program steered by performance experts, Collective Mind.
The AFL Players’ Association has refused to comment, stating no complaint was made after reports emerged multiple Crows players were “bewildered” and mentally distressed.
But Crows star Rory Sloane has since spoken of the benefits of the camp.
“I absolutely 100 per cent came back from that camp feeling like a better husband, a better son and a much better teammate than when I was before I left on that camp,” Sloane said on Adelaide radio.
“We are working on the mindfulness side of sport, as well ... it was a camp that was pretty important to everyone.”