Kane Cornes has taken aim at the struggling Crows, as the club moves to slash player payments in response to the pandemic.
Channel Seven yesterday reported that Adelaide proposed a uniform five per cent cut, more than the three and a half per cent mandated by the AFL.
“The managers of the Adelaide players aren’t happy with this, at all,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“Already the club is paying under (the full cap allowance), and now they’ve hit them with a further two per cent pay cut.”
Out-of-contract Crows include established leaders Taylor Walker, Daniel Talia and Matt Crouch, best-and-fairest winner Reilly O’Brien, captain-in-waiting Tom Doedee, and promising talls Darcy Fogarty and Fischer McAsey.
“Is it good business to annoy 21 players who are out of contract, when you’re trying desperately to retain players and your history of doing so has been really poor?” Cornes queried.
The pandemic response has varied across the competition, with West Coast and St Kilda players agreeing to a seven per cent slashing, while Carlton finalised a five per cent cut.
“I can understand West Coast and Richmond doing it, teams that have been up the ladder for a long, long time and are struggling to fit all their star players in,” he acknowledged.
“I’m not sure Adelaide fit in the category, where the salary cap is bursting to the point that you need to take a cut.”
Channel Seven added the club later clarified the five per cent cut was only one option in negotiations.
Cornes says the Crows’ approach to their total player payments may soon have ramifications for a list already under reconstruction.
“The concerning one from a few calls I’ve made is Rory Laird,” Cornes revealed.
“Rory Laird wants to stay at the club, no doubt about it. South Australian boy, he’s happy there.
"He wants five years, and currently there’s two Victorian clubs with five years on offer, and Adelaide have a three year deal on the table."
Cornes said he understands the Crows' hesitation, but added that they set a precedent with long-term contracts for Milera, Sloane, Josh Jenkins and Eddie Betts.
"You set yourself up in an interesting situation, and you may have to lose another player of quality.”