My coaching not for everyone, Craig says
Adelaide coach Neil Craig has begged politely to differ with ex-Crow Scott Welsh's view that Craig's is not a club that makes AFL football fun for its players.
Welsh skipped town to join the Western Bulldogs in the off-season and has publicly stated his preference for the coaching style of Rodney Eade, which he believes allows more room for individual flair.
Retiring club captain Mark Ricciuto said at the end of 2007 that the Crows' coaching staff had a task ahead of them to "get a little more enjoyment back into it", but Craig denied there was a fun shortage at West Lakes.
Instead, he stated that Adelaide is not a club for all footballers, something several of the players moved on over the summer, including new Carlton flanker Darren Pfeiffer, would agree with.
"Our environment's not for everyone, we don't make out it is for everyone," Craig said.
"I read some information about (NFL club) the New England Patriots, and some of the players outside their club have admiration and respect for it but a lot of players say we wouldn't want to go there, so we don't sit here and expect our environment to be for every player in the competition.
"I hope (Welsh) has gone to an environment that he enjoys, and if he finds it more fun I think that's fantastic, and I hope he has success at the Bulldogs because he has made a big decision."
On the subject of fun, Craig said it was up to the players to tell him, and the media, if they did not think there was enough enjoyment being had by all, and he also suggested that 2007 had been a difficult one for many because it was the first of his three seasons to be severely tested by adverse circumstances through injury.
Unlike 2005 and 2006 where the Crows made a fast start and were quickly entrenched in the top four, 2007 saw a constant slog to stay in touch with finals contention.
"That was a tough season for us last year, in comparison to the two before," Craig said.
"I've got a lot of feedback over the last three years and no different at the end of last year, if I expect players to receive feedback from each other and from coaches, I'm in the same boat.
"There's an assumption it's not fun, I'm not sure that assumption is correct, I think the best thing you guys need to do is don't ask me, ask the players."
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