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The AFL has cleared Adelaide and their former chief executive Steven Trigg of any wrongdoing over Eddie Betts' move to the Crows two years ago.
An inquiry into Betts’ departure from Carlton was sparked after ex-Blues coach Mick Malthouse said in an explosive interview on Tuesday morning that Betts had an agreement with the Crows 18 months before he left the club.
The interview preceded Malthouse's sacking.
On Thursday afternoon, the AFL’s general counsel Andrew Dillon said the League was satisfied its rules were adhered to.
"Betts, through his management, explored a number of options at other clubs for potential consideration to his playing career, as is allowed under the rules, but came to no binding agreement before the 2013 Free Agency period,” Dillon said.
The AFL interviewed 14 people, including officials from four clubs & two registered player agents as part of the investigation.
Documentation from a number of parties was also examined.
In a pre-recorded interview to be screened on Fox Footy on Thursday night, Malthouse said he told investigators Trigg was totally innocent of any mischief.
But Malthouse did not go into detail on what he told them.
"I think that's really between me and them," Malthouse said.
"But broadly I made sure that I thought Steven was totally innocent, totally innocent, of any mischief."
Malthouse also said he felt he deserved better treatment from Carlton.
"One of the things that I probably did feel more than anything was, outside of the sense of disappointment, I felt as if I thought I deserved just a little bit better," Malthouse said.
"Just a bit more time or less time."
Malthouse was sacked on Tuesday after the club confirmed there was a breakdown of trust between the Carlton board and the senior coach.
Following his dismissal Malthouse confirmed he would not coach at AFL level again, ending his 31-year senior coaching career on a record 718 games coached.
