Rory Sloane has become only third Crow to win three Chelsea Phillis Coaches’ Awards.
Sloane, who first received the honour in 2012, claimed back-to-back Coaches’ Awards at the Crows Club Champion presentation on Friday night.
Two-time premiership captain Mark Bickley (1996, 1997 and 2001) and respected midfielder Robert Shirley (2003, 2005 and 2007) are the only other players to collect the award three times.
Sloane, 26, has now won the coveted award, voted for by the coaching group, under three different head coaches. Senior Assistant Coach Scott Camporeale said it was impossible for the coaches to look past Sloane again this year.
“We know what we’re going to get from Sloaney every week,” Camporeale said.
“Our fans see how hard he works on game day, but he puts in just as much effort behind the scenes. Sloaney is a strong leader and sets a great example for our playing group.
“He’s never satisfied. He’s always looking to improve and is driven to achieve success for this football club.”
Sloane enjoyed his best season to-date in 2016.
The 2013 Crows Club Champion, who only missed one game through suspension, averaged a career-high 25.2 possessions, five clearances and seven tackles.
He earned All-Australian selection for the first time and his leadership was also recognised, named vice-captain of the star-studded team.
The external recognition continued when Sloane finished runner-up in the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year, as well as the peer-voted AFL Players’ Association MVP award.
A tireless worker both offensively and defensively, 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 second at Adelaide for disposals, clearances and inside 50ms.
Andrew Jarman won the inaugural Coaches’ Award in 1995, which has since been claimed by many of the Club's biggest names, including Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin and Ben Hart.
The Coaches’ Award was re-named in 2009 in memory of two-year-old Crows fan Chelsea Phillis who passed away suddenly, with Chelsea's family selflessly deciding to donate her organs to help others.
Past winners of the Chelsea Phillis Coaches’ Award
1995 – Andrew Jarman
1996 – Mark Bickley
1997 – Mark Bickley
1998 – Simon Goodwin
1999 – Ben Hart
2000 – Mark Ricciuto
2001 – Mark Bickley
2002 – Tyson Stenglein
2003 – Robert Shirley
2004 – Mark Ricciuto
2005 – Robert Shirley
2006 – Matthew Bode
2007 – Robert Shirley
2008 – Richard Douglas
2009 – Jason Porplyzia
2010 – Richard Douglas
2011 – Scott Thompson
2012 – Rory Sloane
2013 – Andy Otten
2014 – Eddie Betts
2015 – Rory Sloane
