Adelaide Crows legend Andrew McLeod has made a stunning confession about his former club, declaring "it's not a place you feel welcomed."
McLeod, a two-time premiership player and dual Norm Smith Medal winner, played 340 games for the club and is arguably the greatest Crows to ever pull on the guernsey.
However, speaking on his โBunji & Brettsterโ podcast with Adelaide 36ers legend Brett Maher, the 43-year old said he and his former teammates don't feel embraced at West Lakes.
โIโm one of those guys that if you asked me if I felt comfortable walking back into the football club, Iโd say no,โ he said.
โItโs one of those things and Iโve had this conversation with a lot of my old teammates that itโs not a place you feel welcomed.โ
McLeod returned to the Crows in 2018 to work for the AFLW side's coaching staff under Bec Goddard.
But the five-time All Australian critiqued the "vibe" of the club and didn't feel the love as a former great.
โYou see lots of guys go back to their footy clubs and feel welcomed โฆ for me, the Crows doesnโt really have that vibe.
โIt doesnโt have that vibe where youโre really welcomed here and Iโve done some work there.
โItโs not a place you feel like it embraces you as a past player.โ
Crows board member Mark Ricciuto responded to McLeod's claims, tweeting: โItโs not the way I feel or Rod Jameson who heads up the Past Players feel or I doubt other players on the committee like Mark Bickley, Peter Caven, Kym Koster or current player Tom Lynch would feel."
Itโs not the way I feel or Rod Jameson who heads up the Past Players feel or I doubt other players on the committee like Mark Bickley, Peter Caven, Kym Koster or current player Tom Lynch would feel. Iโm looking forward to hearing why he said it
— Mark Ricciuto (@markricciuto) June 2, 2020
McLeod retired from the AFL in 2010.
