For the third time, Crows members have voted Rory Sloane as their most valuable player.
Sloane, who also accepted the Chelsea Phillis Coaches’ Award, returned to the stage to collect the member-voted 19th Man Award at the Crows Club Champion presentation on Friday night.
All Adelaide Football Club members were invited to vote in the 19th Man Award, with each member permitted one vote. Thousands of fans participated in the voting process, which was conducted online from September 1 – 12.
Sloane, 26, was the clear winner with 58 per cent of the votes. Forward Eddie Betts finished second, while defender Rory Laird placed third.
Sloane is now a three-time winner of the award, having received the honour in 2013 and 2014.
The respected midfielder enjoyed an individually brilliant 2016 season.
The 2013 Crows Club Champion averaged a career-high 25.2 possessions, five clearances and seven tackles. He earned All-Australian selection for the first time and was named vice-captain of the team.
Sloane also finished runner-up in the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year and the peer-voted AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player award.
Renowned for his two-way running, Sloane was the No.1 ranked player in the AFL for pressure acts and applied the third-most tackles.
He was also top 10 in the League for contested possessions and score involvements after the second week of the finals series. He finished the year ranked No.2 at Adelaide for disposals, clearances and inside 50ms.
The 19th Man Award was presented by 23-year-old Jessica Ferrall of Paradise, who was one of the many members who voted for Sloane. Silver Member Jessica was chosen at random from the members who voted for the winner to present the award on behalf all voting members.
Past 19th Man Award winners
1998 – Nigel Smart
1999 – Ben Hart
2000 – Mark Ricciuto
2001 – Andrew McLeod
2002 – Tyson Edwards
2003 – Mark Ricciuto
2004 – Tyson Edwards
2005 – Simon Goodwin
2006 – Tyson Edwards
2007 – Andrew McLeod
2008 – Nathan Bock
2009 – Bernie Vince
2010 – Graham Johncock
2011 – Scott Thompson
2012 – Patrick Dangerfield
2013 – Rory Sloane
2014 – Rory Sloane
2015 – Rory Laird
