Collective Mind Says The Richmond Song Wasn’t Played On Loop In Adelaide’s Pre-Season Camp

"It was not played at all"

Image: Channel 7

Controversial high performance group Collective Mind has denied that the Richmond theme song was played on loop at Adelaide’s infamous pre-season camp as has been claimed.

Company directors Amon Woulfe and Derek Leddie fronted the media in Melbourne today to set the record straight on the controversial camp.

Woulfe said that the Richmond song wasn’t played even once.

“Contrary to speculation, the Richmond theme song was not played on loop,” Woulfe said.

“It was not played at all.

“There was a comedy routine in which a comedian sang a few bars and that is it.”

Woulfe said that all the feedback Collective Mind received was “overwhelmingly positive”.

He also addressed the reported problems surrounding Indigenous players on the camp, saying that the attempted use of a talking stick was the source of the issue.

“We incorporated the use of a traditional talking stick in all sharing circles as another way of honouring the traditional Indigenous connection to the country… The talking stick was used in dialogue sessions and came from the same country as one of the players,” Woulfe said.

“The player was unsure whether this was an appropriate or not, as it was originally a digging stick.

“However, we understand that this was satisfactorily clarified by the player with elders within 72 hours of the camp ending.”

Adelaide parted ways with Collective Mind in June this year after backlash against the camp, which had been described as “cult-like” in some quarters.