Adelaide forward Taylor Walker described recently retired Rory Sloane as “the perfect teammate.” 

Sloane called time on his decorated career on Monday morning, which spanned 255 games and 16 seasons, and for the Adelaide Football Club,

Present for the entirety of his career was Walker, with the pair developing a strong bond both on and off the field. 

Reflecting on his great mate’s career, the 34-year-old spoke glowingly of the influence he had on the Adelaide Football Club. 

“I don’t know where to start with Sloaney, he is the perfect teammate,” Walker said to Roo, Ditts and Loz on Triple M Adelaide Breakfast. 

“I’ve been with him for 16 years and every time you ran onto the field with Sloaney, you just knew what you were going to get from him. 

“He’s the most honest footballer I’ve ever played with, tough, hard and you knew when the moment was there and somebody had to stand up, he would do it.

“It’s very sad that he’s finishing up, I don’t get to play with him one more time, he doesn’t get to kick it to me one more time, we don’t get to celebrate one more time.” 

Away from the field, Walker and his family share a special connection with the Sloanes. 

He spoke about the evolution of their friendship over the years, and how excited he was for the next chapter. 

“Our families have become very close as well, we spend a lot of time together off the field and have just recently bought caravans, so I can’t wait for what is to come for our friendship,” Walker said. 

“He is the most beautiful human, so is his wife Bel and his kids as well, and as a family we all just love them. 

“For our family you look at it and think how lucky we are to have such great friends, and we cannot wait to create many more memories in the future.”