ADELAIDE is in the clear following an AFL review of its free-agency signing of former Carlton small forward Eddie Betts.

AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon this afternoon closed the league investigation while sacked Carlton coach Michael Malthouse has stepped away from his explosive claim that the Crows breached league rules to secure Betts.

The AFL interviewed 14 people — across four clubs, Adelaide, Carlton, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne — to conclude the Crows had worked within the framework of the league’s recruiting rules. The 14 included two player agents, including Bett’s manager Ned Guy.

Malthouse also was among the 14.

Malthouse, in his exclusive interview with Fox Footy, says he has told AFL investigators that former Crows chief executive and current Blues boss Steven Trigg is “totally innocent”.

This follows Malthouse embroiling the Crows in controversy by saying Trigg had told him Betts had been “stitched up” from Carlton 18 months before the free-agency option opened for the forward.

Betts joined Adelaide last year on a four-season deal worth $2 million.

Malthouse says he accepts Trigg was talking about how to identify and chase free agents in advance rather than saying the Crows signed Betts before AFL rules allow.

Malthouse says of his evidence to the AFL: “That’s between me and them (the AFL integrity unit).

“Broadly, I was . I made sure I thought Steven was totally innocent, totally innocent of any mischief.

“It was more about structures (in a recruiting department) — this is how you set things up.

“If there was a slightest boast, it was ‘This is how it’s done’. And he was running that (at Adelaide as the Crows identified free agents two years in advance).

“I think it is good practice to get something set up — that’s what (Carlton list manager) Stephen Silvagni is there for, to make sure of the future of the football club.”

The evidence of two rival clubs that bidded for Betts’ free-agent signature — Port Adelaide and North Melbourne — supported the Crows and dismissed the claim from Malthouse that Betts played his last season at Carlton with a signed deal at Adelaide.

The Malthouse interview will appear on Fox Footy this evening.