The Crows Truth
Club Legend
And people wonder why Adelaide is laughed at as a city - look at the size of that font. Pathetic
I'LL KILL YOU
By REBEKAH DEVLIN
23dec05
The real story: What Simon Goodwin said
outside Raglan's Hotel at 11am
ADELAIDE Crows star Simon Goodwin physically assaulted and threatened a photographer after a drunken night with teammates spilled on to the street outside a city hotel at about 11am yesterday.
A clearly intoxicated Goodwin pushed Advertiser photographer Tait Schmaal against a wall, pressed his forearm against Schmaal's throat and told him: "If you run any photos, I'll f...ing kill you."
Several players, including Crows captain Mark Ricciuto, were drinking at Waymouth St pub Raglan's, which is co-owned by former Crows player Wayne Carey, early yesterday morning after celebrations for the conclusion of the year's training on Wednesday and a friend's 30th birthday.
After a call from the public alerting The Advertiser to unruly behaviour by some of the players, Schmaal went to the hotel about 9.35am but did not enter and remained on the public footpath at all times.
Before the altercation, he photographed Crows players Rhett Biglands, Ben Hudson and Nathan Bock running across Waymouth St and wrestling.
Schmaal also photographed a parking inspector being doused with a drink, which was thrown from inside the hotel.
The Crows denied that it was thrown by a player.
Soon afterwards, Goodwin left Raglan's. When he noticed Schmaal, Goodwin approached and shoved the photographer before attempting to snatch his camera out of his hands.
"If you run any photos, I'll f...ing kill you," Goodwin said to Schmaal, who asked: "Is that a threat?"
Goodwin replied that it was.
The current Crows club champion then pushed Schmaal against a wall and pressed his forearm against Schmaal's throat.
"You're f...ed if you run this," Goodwin said to Schmaal.
Raglan's co-owner Rob Kent had to pull Goodwin's arms away from Schmaal.
Mark Ricciuto also told Advertiser reporter Rebekah Devlin that no Crows players would deal with The Advertiser if the incident was publicised.
Biglands and Scott Welsh tried to defuse the situation - Welsh physically restrained an agitated Ricciuto and Biglands attempted to convince Devlin not to publish the pictures.
Ozexperience.com tour consultant Tracy Bryant witnessed the incident, which occurred on the footpath outside her office.
"I saw them (the Crows players) play-fighting in the street earlier, but then I didn't see any more of them until your photographer was slammed up against the wall," she said.
"It was crazy. I heard Goodwin shouting 'I'm going to kill you if you print those'."
During a press conference called by the Crows following the attack, Goodwin denied he had threatened to kill anyone.
Ms Bryant said soon after the incident, she saw the players leave Raglan's and not return. "They were running amok, it was nuts," she said. "It was just crazy. I couldn't believe it."
The players were believed to have been on a late-night drinking binge.
A Crows statement said the players had returned home at 5am after Christmas celebrations. However, the statement also said they arrived at the pub at 10.30am.
Biglands told The Advertiser the players had only been at Raglan's since 11am, but they were seen in the bar drinking at 9am and photographed at 10am.
At the press conference, at West Lakes, Goodwin said he "forcefully mishandled" Schmaal because he felt his personal space was being invaded.
"I feel that I reacted in a manner which is unbecoming and I certainly regret that," he said. "It was a response that is unnatural to me and something that I deeply regret."
Goodwin phoned Schmaal to apologise yesterday afternoon and conceded during the media conference he could have dealt with things "a lot better".
Asked if he had threatened to kill Schmaal if he published the photographs, Goodwin replied: "I did not at any stage threaten to kill him."
In a prepared statement, club chief executive Steven Trigg admitted Goodwin had "lost it".
He stressed that the club did not condone his action but "it does support Simon Goodwin", and said that given Goodwin's public apology and personal call to Schmaal, the club intended to take no further action.
"There are no other incidents or surrounding behaviour of which we are either embarrassed, ashamed or going to take action. I want to be clear about that," he said.
He said the Crows leadership group would probably consider the matter in the New Year.
Coach Neil Craig said the incident would be "a learning experience" and the club could turn it "into a positive".
"In the end, I think it will be a fantastic learning experience for our whole playing group of the responsibility they have," Craig said.
Statements were made to SA Police by Schmaal and the parking inspector but neither elected to press charges.
I'LL KILL YOU
By REBEKAH DEVLIN
23dec05
The real story: What Simon Goodwin said
outside Raglan's Hotel at 11am
ADELAIDE Crows star Simon Goodwin physically assaulted and threatened a photographer after a drunken night with teammates spilled on to the street outside a city hotel at about 11am yesterday.
A clearly intoxicated Goodwin pushed Advertiser photographer Tait Schmaal against a wall, pressed his forearm against Schmaal's throat and told him: "If you run any photos, I'll f...ing kill you."
Several players, including Crows captain Mark Ricciuto, were drinking at Waymouth St pub Raglan's, which is co-owned by former Crows player Wayne Carey, early yesterday morning after celebrations for the conclusion of the year's training on Wednesday and a friend's 30th birthday.
After a call from the public alerting The Advertiser to unruly behaviour by some of the players, Schmaal went to the hotel about 9.35am but did not enter and remained on the public footpath at all times.
Before the altercation, he photographed Crows players Rhett Biglands, Ben Hudson and Nathan Bock running across Waymouth St and wrestling.
Schmaal also photographed a parking inspector being doused with a drink, which was thrown from inside the hotel.
The Crows denied that it was thrown by a player.
Soon afterwards, Goodwin left Raglan's. When he noticed Schmaal, Goodwin approached and shoved the photographer before attempting to snatch his camera out of his hands.
"If you run any photos, I'll f...ing kill you," Goodwin said to Schmaal, who asked: "Is that a threat?"
Goodwin replied that it was.
The current Crows club champion then pushed Schmaal against a wall and pressed his forearm against Schmaal's throat.
"You're f...ed if you run this," Goodwin said to Schmaal.
Raglan's co-owner Rob Kent had to pull Goodwin's arms away from Schmaal.
Mark Ricciuto also told Advertiser reporter Rebekah Devlin that no Crows players would deal with The Advertiser if the incident was publicised.
Biglands and Scott Welsh tried to defuse the situation - Welsh physically restrained an agitated Ricciuto and Biglands attempted to convince Devlin not to publish the pictures.
Ozexperience.com tour consultant Tracy Bryant witnessed the incident, which occurred on the footpath outside her office.
"I saw them (the Crows players) play-fighting in the street earlier, but then I didn't see any more of them until your photographer was slammed up against the wall," she said.
"It was crazy. I heard Goodwin shouting 'I'm going to kill you if you print those'."
During a press conference called by the Crows following the attack, Goodwin denied he had threatened to kill anyone.
Ms Bryant said soon after the incident, she saw the players leave Raglan's and not return. "They were running amok, it was nuts," she said. "It was just crazy. I couldn't believe it."
The players were believed to have been on a late-night drinking binge.
A Crows statement said the players had returned home at 5am after Christmas celebrations. However, the statement also said they arrived at the pub at 10.30am.
Biglands told The Advertiser the players had only been at Raglan's since 11am, but they were seen in the bar drinking at 9am and photographed at 10am.
At the press conference, at West Lakes, Goodwin said he "forcefully mishandled" Schmaal because he felt his personal space was being invaded.
"I feel that I reacted in a manner which is unbecoming and I certainly regret that," he said. "It was a response that is unnatural to me and something that I deeply regret."
Goodwin phoned Schmaal to apologise yesterday afternoon and conceded during the media conference he could have dealt with things "a lot better".
Asked if he had threatened to kill Schmaal if he published the photographs, Goodwin replied: "I did not at any stage threaten to kill him."
In a prepared statement, club chief executive Steven Trigg admitted Goodwin had "lost it".
He stressed that the club did not condone his action but "it does support Simon Goodwin", and said that given Goodwin's public apology and personal call to Schmaal, the club intended to take no further action.
"There are no other incidents or surrounding behaviour of which we are either embarrassed, ashamed or going to take action. I want to be clear about that," he said.
He said the Crows leadership group would probably consider the matter in the New Year.
Coach Neil Craig said the incident would be "a learning experience" and the club could turn it "into a positive".
"In the end, I think it will be a fantastic learning experience for our whole playing group of the responsibility they have," Craig said.
Statements were made to SA Police by Schmaal and the parking inspector but neither elected to press charges.
