Crew collapse ... many times (9)

I believe the answer is:

eightfold

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'crew collapse many times' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'crew collapse' is the wordplay.
'crew' becomes 'eight' (an eight-person rowing team).
'collapse' becomes 'fold' (as in a business folding).
'eight'+'fold'='EIGHTFOLD'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for eightfold that I've seen is " Size of increase".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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