Adelaide coach Don Pyke is likely to remain as the Adelaide coach in 2020, despite the Crows being close to dropping out of the eight this year.
However, there could be a major list overhaul in the off-season, with veterans such as Eddie Betts could be cut in the process.
Adelaide are on the brink of missing finals for the second year in a row should they not improve their form in the final month of footy.
The Crows have only won one game of their last five, that coming against the lowly Gold Coast Suns, though they did win by a monster 95 points.
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However, while there is seemingly great pressure on coach Don Pyke, who called an emergency meeting at his house on Sunday, it appears the Crows board will retain his services next season.
It is believed that Adelaide will likely keep on Pyke for next season due to a massive $3 million payout should they get rid of their senior coach, according to AFL Tonight reporter Jon Ralph.
Contracted until 2021, Ralph reports that the Crows would not be able to afford the huge payout should they let go of Pyke.
However, he expects a big list overhaul in the offseason, with a list of veterans expected to be culled.
“Adelaide are adamant they’re not sacking Don Pyke, and to be honest it would cost them the better part of $3 million if they were to do so, given the football department cap,” Ralph said on Fox Sports’ AFL Tonight.
“But I think all bets are off for every senior player under a massive list overhaul.
“There’s talk about whether the players have lost him or vice versa. All we’d say on that is every time a senior player is dropped, they quibble about it publicly, they don’t seem to accept their fate, and that certainly talks about a disconnect.
“Senior powerbrokers made clear that the 2017 Grand Final was an aberration and they would keep the faith - because they were so close to a flag, the players deserved that.
“Now they’ve got a one-paced midfield, players like (Josh) Jenkins who are not playing their role as key forwards, and two senior players in Eddie Betts and Bryce Gibbs with those significant contracts and they’re not fitting into their plans.”
Ralph would go on to say that it could be likely the Crows send Betts into retirement, while they were more than likely to move on Bryce Gibbs.
“I think they’ll at least have a conversation with Eddie Betts about a financial settlement,” he said.
“We know he’s got that one year on his contract, but I think they’ll say Eddie, do you want to take half of your contract if you’d like to retire - at least give him that option.
“Bryce Gibbs wants to fight it out, he wants to stay in South Australia, but I think they’ll say to someone if you’ll take his contract on, we’ll move him on, because he’s one-paced. We’ve got the Crouch brothers and Rory Sloane. I just don’t see how Bryce Gibbs fits into that situation.
“So they will overhaul their list, and they say at this stage Don Pyke will very much lead the charge.”
