Clumsy handling of Brenton Sanderson's departure went from bad to worse as the Crows' moved to minimise the damage when it became clear they had sacked their coach but had no ready replacement as Simon Goodwin signed with Melbourne.

To justify the shock move Adelaide put the focus squarely on its senior players, a strategy it could live to dearly regret. Not only did the blame game show a disturbing lack of fortitude it was also in at least some notable cases completely inaccurate and has created more disharmony within the club.

Private briefings saw a handful of senior players later named on Adelaide radio while chairman Rob Chapman in his media conference agreed that player consultations had played a part in Sanderson's downfall. The players named publicly on radio as being prepared to walk away from the club should Sanderson remain included Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker.

Breakfast radio host and Crows ambassador David Penberthy also named Richard Douglas and Brad and Matthew Crouch. Fairfax Media understands at least two of the above were not only furious at being publicly named but also refuting that the situation had deteriorated to the degree they wanted Sanderson sacked.

The seriously conflicted new director Mark Ricciuto went further than Chapman on his Adelaide radio station when he said: "The players were one of those groups and obviously form part of the reason why he [Sanderson] is not there from next year onwards."