Crows want Tippett saga to end

Kurt Tippett at Adelaide Crows training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

THE AFL Commission hearing over the Kurt Tippett saga could kill Steven Trigg's long career at Adelaide, but the Crows chief executive just wants to walk the plank.

Trigg and the Crows are about to learn the dire consequences of the fatally-flawed 2009 strategy to retain Tippett on a three-year contract.

"It's been a really, really long six weeks for everybody," Trigg said when he arrived in Melbourne today ahead of the hearing.

"It's been demanding on the footy club and we're looking forward to tomorrow, to be able to put it behind us."

Asked to confirm comments from Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman that the Crows would plead guilty, Trigg said "we'll wait and see".

The hearing, which begins at 8am Melbourne time, will consider 11 charges relating to the league's biggest salary cap and list management scandal since the AFL hit Carlton with massive penalties a decade ago.

No doubt mindful that Carlton took six years to recover from that punishment, the Crows appear set to throw themselves at the mercy of the Commission.

Their probable admission also underscores the enormity of the case against the Crows, Trigg, their current football operations manager Phil Harper and his predecessor John Reid.

Tippett, by contrast, will contest his two charges and high-profile Melbourne QC David Galbally will represent him at the hearing.

Last week Adelaide gave up their first two picks in the national draft, freely admitting that was a "gesture of goodwill" before they front the commission.

There have been frantic negotiations behind the scenes, plus a directions session last Friday, ahead of the hearing.

The ramifications of the hearing will be massive - it could cost Trigg and Harper their jobs at the Crows, depending on the extent of their punishments.

Reid is no longer involved directly in the AFL.

AFL investigators arrive at the Adelaide Football Club offices as part of the investigation into alleged salary cap breaches to star player Kurt Tippett. Source: adelaidenow

Adelaide's penalties are unlikely to be as fierce as the $930,000 in fines and the loss of crucial draft picks that crippled the Blues a decade ago.

But salary cap breaches and draft tampering are serious AFL offences.

Then there is Tippett, who wants to join Sydney through the pre-season draft.

Adelaide was trying to finalise a deal with the Swans last month when instead they went to the AFL over secret third-party payments that formed part of their 2009 contract with the key forward.

The league immediately opened an investigation and ruled that Adelaide could not delist Tippett.

After weeks of speculation he registered on Wednesday for the December 11 pre-season draft.

There has been talk of Tippett taking his case to the AFL grievance tribunal or even going to the Supreme Court.

But the more likely course of action is that next Monday, Tippett will put a massive price on his head for the pre-season draft.

Greater Western Sydney has first pick in the December 11 draft and has expressed an interest in Tippett.

But the Giants will not give up the farm and jeopardise future deals with their younger talent.

The Swans are understood to be prepared to offer Tippett a four-year deal worth $3.55 million.

It remains to be seen what would happen to Sydney's interest if the AFL found Tippett guilty and decided to delist him for an extended period.

WHAT THEY FACE

THE CLUB: Two charges of engaging in conduct in breach of the total player payments. One charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft.

STEVEN TRIGG: Two charges of engaging in conduct in breach of the total player payments. One charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft.

PHIL HARPER: One charge of engaging in conduct in breach of the total player payments.

JOHN REID: One charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft. One charge of engaging in conduct in breach of the total player payments.

KURT TIPPETT: One charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft. One charge of engaging in conduct in breach of the total player payments.

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