Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this Saturday night but says the occasion is not just about him.
A decade and a half after pulling on the tri-colours for the first time, Sloane is on the cusp of notching his 250th AFL game - against GWS in front of a home crowd at Adelaide Oval.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Sloane said the milestone match would be just as special for those close to him and he would use the night to show his appreciation for all who have helped along the journey.
“For me, it's really special just to have my friends and family here and celebrate with those who have helped me,” Sloane said.
“I hadn’t put too much thought into it but now I’m here it will be really nice to thank a few important people who have done a lot for my journey over the years.
“There's plenty of people to thank and I’ll reach out to some individuals across this time but obviously you don't make it too far in life without the support of your loved ones and family.”
Despite a decorated career, including a Grand Final appearance and two Malcolm Blight Medals, the 33-year-old said the relationships he had formed were his fondest memories.
“There’s plenty of memorable moments, but mostly it’s just the people you play with along your career,” Sloane said.
“When I came in, it was Neil Craig, Simon Goodwin and VB (Nathan van Berlo) and VB was like a big brother to me, so it’s great to still be working with him now.
“There's one bloke, Scott Camporeale, he's certainly impacted my football career probably more than most and taught me a lot of lessons in football.
“Tex, I’ve gotten to know after the last 15 years, riding the ups and downs of football, we’ve been a part of each other's whole journeys and he’s become one of my best friends across this time.”
Sloane’s path to 250 games has not always been smooth sailing, most notably when the midfielder suffered a season-ending ACL injury at the beginning of the 2022 season.
Testament to his character, Sloane used the setback as an opportunity to reset and enjoy his football.
“I kept it simple, having that knee operation certainly gave me some time to reflect on footy and the whole goal was to keep it simple, come back and enjoy footy no matter what happened,” Slone said.
“My whole thought process this year has been to enjoy every moment, enjoy it with the people you love and care about.
“I got back within about nine months, the body felt really strong and still does.”
Sloane said he was looking forward to a tough contest against the Giants and hoped the Crows would return to the winners’ list.
“Their (the Giants’) contested game and their pressure are probably undervalued across the comp,” Sloane said.
“We let ourselves down on the weekend and didn’t quite match Essendon in that area, so that will be a focus in what we bring this weekend.
“I certainly want us to crack in and play some really solid footy that makes our fans proud.”
Adelaide takes on GWS at Adelaide Oval on Saturday at 7.10pm.KIDS GO FREE for our match and you can redeem your FREE general admission tickets for kids under 15 here.
