Adelaide have cut ties with Collective Mind, the driving force behind the club’s controversial pre-season training camp.
The Crows signed a two-year deal with the mind training company last year.
But they pulled the plug on the association after the psychologically-stressful camp caused lingering tensions within the playing group and offended indigenous players.
The company was behind the much-discussed ‘power stance’ coach Don Pyke and his players adopted while the national anthem was played before finals and the grand final last year.
Adelaide embarked on their first pre-season camp in over five years on the Gold Coast in January following their 48-point grand final loss to Richmond.
Described in some quarters as cult-like, the camp has continued to be a contentious issue as the Crows’ season has spiralled out of control due to poor form and a lengthy injury list.
“In the last 24 hours, we’ve mutually agreed to part ways,” Crows football boss Brett Burton said on Saturday.
“That was a mutual decision. We set out in this relationship two years ago and we had some really good results last year.
“You would have seen it publicly when we stood in a ‘present’ stance – the 22 players and Don – in front of three million people Australia-wide (on grand final day).
“So clearly, we had some good impact with the program last year but this year, it hasn’t gone the way we wanted it too, that’s from both parties.”
Adelaide will resume from their bye round with a disappointing 6-7 record facing an uphill battle to make the finals.
The club has been strongly criticised for the controversial camp and a fitness program that has led to a run of hamstring injuries.
The club has conceded elements of the camp were of particular concern to their indigenous players.
But Burton is adamant all issues – whatever they may have been – are in the past.
“We don’t need to go into all the specifics because I don’t think that’s fair … but what I will say is that there are no lingering issues from the camp,” he said.
“That is categoric – there are no lingering issues with our playing group and with our staff from that camp.
“That’s all our fans need to know … we’ve got a playing group that is happy.”
