Suspended midfielder Rory Sloane says he’s disappointed after being offered a one-game ban for rough conduct, but is already counting down the days to his on-field return.
Sloane will miss Friday night's crucial clash with West Coast at Adelaide Oval and is ineligible for this year’s Brownlow Medal after accepting a one-match suspension from the AFL Match Review Panel on Tuesday.
The Crows can secure a top-two berth and a home game in week one of the finals with a win, but could slide out of the top four with a loss.
"Disappointed, frustrated on a few different levels, but there's not much I can do now," Sloane told Channel Seven.
"I'll just move on, keep training.
"I'll get ready for a couple weeks because we've got some finals to play and that's pretty important."
Sloane has been in career-best form this season and was considered to be a top-five chance to win the Brownlow.
The AFL.com.au Brownlow Predictor had Sloane in outright third with one round to play, three votes behind Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield.
Team success is ultimately Sloane’s priority however, and the courageous onballer still wants to contribute in any way he can on Friday night.
"It's going to be a hard one to swallow, I think, but also, it is what it is," Sloane said.
"I'll help the boys get up for this weekend and I might see if (Crows coach Don Pyke) has got a spot for me in the coaches’ box."
Sloane took an early guilty plea for rough conduct for his hit on Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert in last weekend's Showdown.
If Sloane had contested the Match Review Panel’s decision and lost, he would have received a two-game ban and missed the first week of the finals.
Sloane said he couldn’t wait to get back on the field with his teammates after his enforced break.
"We've got the bye after it, too," Sloane said.
"It's probably a little extended … I'll be bouncing off the walls when I come back for sure."
