Highly respected Crows midfielder Rory Sloane has announced his retirement after a decorated career as a one-club player.

Sloane, who played 255 games over 16 seasons, made the difficult decision in the best interests of his long-term health, following a second bout of surgery on a detached retina earlier this year.

The former captain, club champion and All Australian informed teammates of his decision on Monday morning, after extensive consultation with doctors and eye specialists in recent months.

"I have given it my all to get back to playing and generally speaking my body is in great shape and I’m mentally fresh but ultimately, the risk of another eye injury is too great,” Sloane said.

“More so the impact it could have on my life and the potential for loss of vision. I’ve come to realise this is definitely not like the more common injuries you can get from playing the game.

“Our footy club is a special place and I have absolutely loved every minute of my career, and along the way I have grown and experienced so much as a person and footballer.

“So many of my important life moments, including getting married and having children, have been intertwined with my Crows journey, as well as the opportunity to make lifelong friends and ride the ups and downs of their lives too.”

Drafted with Pick No.44 in 2008 from the Eastern Ranges, Sloane went on to become one of the Crows’ greatest ever selections.

He debuted in 2009 and by 2013 won his first Malcolm Blight Medal as Adelaide’s Club Champion.

He won his second best-and-fairest in 2016 which was the same year he became All-Australian, runner-up in the AFLPA MVP Award and finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal.

In 2017, he was named the AFLPA’s Most Courageous Player and was nominated for the All-Australian team as Adelaide made the grand final.

Sloane was named co-captain alongside good friend Taylor Walker in 2019 and helped guide the Club through some of its most challenging times as sole captain from 2020 to 2022, before passing the baton to current skipper Jordan Dawson.

“I am not going anywhere in a hurry and will continue to be around the Club, helping out when and where I can, for the remainder of the season,” Sloane said.

“Footy and the Crows have been such a big part of my life and while I’m disappointed to not be playing anymore, there’s also a feeling of pride as well as excitement for what lies ahead for not just me and my family but the Club as well.”

Crows Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said he was fortunate to have seen Sloane’s career as an opposition coach and then up closely in recent years.

“It’s hard to actually come up with the appropriate words to describe Sloaney’s impact on our Club, other than to say he will go down as one of the most influential people to have ever come through the doors,” Nicks said.

“I challenge anyone to find a more positive person and his courage and strength of leadership – in good and tough times – is right up there with the very best.

“His on-field achievements speak for themselves but it’s also his genuine care for others which stands out, and it’s one of the fundamental values at our Club.

“Come the end of the season, we’ll miss not having Sloaney and Belinda, and their children Sonny, Bodhi and Summer, around the place as often and we wish them the very best.”