Complacent Crows drop their guards with Covid-19 precautions

THE Adelaide Crows have blamed complacency for five players and three staff flouting Covid rules on a commercial flight, costing them a $50,000 fine from the AFL.

The league issued the hefty penalty on Saturday after an investigation found that Crows personnel had not worn face masks correctly on the trip home from Sydney on May 30.

Crows football manager Adam Kelly said the club had been concerned how the breach would influence key decision-making in a week that SA Health introduced stringent Covid rules surrounding their game against the Magpies.

Kelly would not identify the eight people who broke the rules, saying the entire group was at fault.

“We had about 55 people in that travelling party, all of which, on that flight, could’ve done something about it if they had seen anyone wearing the mask incorrectly, so we share the blame together,” he said.

“Any time you have anyone in the community reflect on the behaviours of your people in a negative way, it certainly makes your stomach turn.

“You’re concerned for the impact it’s going to have on your people, you’re concerned for how it’s going to influence decision-making, and it’s obviously been a really concerning week.

“I don’t think our players believe they’re above the rules, what they were was complacent.

“We’re apologetic to people on the plane that the behaviours of some of our staff and players have made people on that plane uncomfortable.”

Kelly also apologised to the club’s members and the AFL, which he said “must be incredibly frustrated at a time when they’re working so hard with governments to continue the season throughout the pandemic”.

Kelly used the example of undertaking precautionary Covid tests this week that were not required by SA Health of the AFL. “We feel like we go over and above at times to ensure our players and our staff are safe, and keeping the community safe,” he said.