Collective Mind cleared of wrongdoing in relation to 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-Season training camp

September 29, 2021

Karen Sweaney

Legal / Safety / Sport /

Collective Mind cleared of wrongdoing in relation to 2018 Adelaide Crows Pre-Season Training Camp

An investigation by Safework SA which took more than a year to complete has cleared elite performance training specialists, Collective Mind of any wrongdoing in relation to the infamous 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-season Gold Coast training camp.

Collective Mind co-owner Amon Woulfe advises that he "specialises in performance-based mindset training, that brings together the latest in practical neuroscience, biofeedback technology, mindset profiling and mental skills training to help the best excel.

In their statement released yesterday, Safework SA notes “there is no evidence of any breach of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 relating to the Camp,” adding “investigation is now closed”.

In a statement released by the Adelaide Football Club, it said that neither the Club “nor any other person or organisation” breached any Work Health and Safety laws during or in relation to the Camp.

"The club fully cooperated with the confidential investigation, voluntarily providing all information and documentation sought by SafeWork SA. The matter is now closed."

For Collective Mind owners Amon Woulfe and Derek Leddie today’s announcement came as a welcome, yet overdue, relief with Woulfe advising “we cooperated fully and voluntarily with the investigation.

“While we are glad this has finally been resolved, it should not be forgotten that these false and sustained allegations have had significant impacts on our business, our brand and our personal reputations.”

“We fully understand the important role the media plays in sport, however the media has an obligation to make sure its facts are correct. In our case, the reporting was incorrect, repeatedly inflated and deeply hurtful.

“We are still yet to receive any sort of retraction or public apology, and we will be seeking appropriate legal redress.”

ABC has reported that the "psychologically-stressful camp" in the months after the Crows' AFL grand final loss in 2017caused "lingering tensions within the playing group and had a negative impact on Indigenous players."

Last year then-coach Don Pyke addressed the media, wanting to end discussions on the camp.

Pyke told ABC Grandstand "It's probably disappointing it's continuing to be discussed. Clearly, the club's viewpoint is that they want to move on.

"I know talking to some of the players who are still there, clearly they want to leave that behind and focus on the footy going forward.

"I think it's probably a conversation that's due with the club about how they want to address this once and for all."

Pyke has refused to discuss the details of what went on at the Gold Coast camp but admitted it had its problems.

"As I've said previously, the intention around that camp was very clear. The execution had some gaps and holes and some mistakes were made and that's been addressed.”

In August 2018, the ABC reported that Collective Mind shifted blame for the Adelaide Crows' poor season onto the AFL club, denying key complaints aired during the year about the controversial pre-season camp. The Adelaide Crows finished 12th in the 2018 AFL season and missed the finals, after making the grand final in 2017 and losing to Richmond Tigers who beat the Adelaide Crows by 48 points at the MCG to break a 37-year premiership drought.

The Melbourne-based business, Collective Mind, denied playing the Richmond Tigers theme song during the 2018 Gold Coast camp with Woulfe noting "contrary to speculation, the Richmond theme song was not played on loop — it was not played at all.”

Collective Mind owners Woulfe and Leddie said they only heard positive feedback from Crows players immediately after the camp was held.

One element Collective Mind admitted to getting wrong was using an Aboriginal digging stick instead of a talking stick during sessions at the camp.

"[One player] was concerned about whether that was the appropriate use of that implement for that use," Leddie said.

But he said using the digging stick had been approved by an elder as okay three days later.

Image: SafeWork SA will not release details of its investigation.(YouTube: SafeWork SA)

About the author

Karen Sweaney

Co-founder and Editor, Australasian Leisure Management

Artist, geoscientist and specialist writer on the leisure industry, Karen Sweaney is Editor and co-founder of Australasian Leisure Management.

Based in Sydney, Australia, her specific areas of interest include the arts, entertainment, the environment, fitness, tourism and wellness.

She has degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney and Geological Oceanography from UNSW.

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