Hugh Greenwood has revealed he had contact with some former Adelaide teammates prior to last weekend’s clash between the Suns and Crows.
Greenwood was one of several players targeted by Crows legend and current football director Mark Ricciuto on Triple M last week relating to the recent exodus of players from the club.
Ricciuto said of Greenwood: “That was probably more our call. Everyone says we’ve got the slowest midfield in the competition. You can’t just keep having those players in your midfield and then whinge that you’ve got a slow midfield.
“He’s 28 this year and not going to be playing in our next premiership side, so we’re trying to get draft picks in to rebuild.”
After Greenwood’s new club Gold Coast demolished Adelaide in Round 3, he took to Twitter to hit back at Ricciuto which started a social media stoush between the pair.
In the wake of the weekend, Greenwood has had a few days to take it all in and has since had discussions with both Crows captain Rory Sloane and Ricciuto to ensure there's no bad blood.
“I was pretty disappointed and pretty flat and that’s why I needed to say something and defend myself and stick up for myself,” he said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“Not only myself but the group that were thrown into that article. They all reached out during the week and politely told me to get the job done on Sunday.
“I’ve said all along I’m proud of my time in Adelaide and have got nothing but respect for the footy club so I was a bit disappointed when those comments came out but I’ve since spoken to Rory (Sloane) and I’ve since spoken to ‘Roo’ (Ricciuto) and cleared some things up.
“Disappointed was probably the main word. I know a few boys were. Life goes on, we had a bit of banter and things are not too bad now.”
Greenwood wanted to make it clear that his actions were not to slander the current playing group - his former teammates - but more to defend those Crows who have since departed the club.
“What I did was not directed at the playing group it was more directed at Roo at the time but unfortunately whatever happens it’s going to reflect and turn back to the playing group and put them back under the spotlight,” he said further.
“I guess that’s why Rory was disappointed because they’ve got enough on their plate at the moment. We had a good chat with Rory and Roo and we said no hard feelings. We both know we are pretty stubborn people, pretty proud people, and we couldn’t help ourselves at the time.
“They are making an effort to improve their culture and their past players so it’s good to know if and when we do ever head back to Adelaide at any stage that we are welcomed back into the footy club.”
Would he have posted something so publicly if there weren’t other names implicated?
“I don’t think I would have. I think would have maybe done it a bit more privately I suppose,” he added.
“I felt like I had an obligation to stick up for myself and then stick up for those other boys as well. Granted I had the opportunity to play the Crows that week whereas the other boys didn’t get that chance.
“Like I said, they politely asked me to get it done and then I went a bit extra on social which is not always the greatest thing to do. But a bit of personality and a bit of banter.
“It got a bit more traction than I thought it would.”