Adelaide star Rory Sloane has given the best indication yet that he intends to re-sign with the Crows.
The 2013 Malcolm Blight medallist is out of contract at the end of this year but on Tuesday hinted he would put pen to paper soon, highlighting his love for the city and the Club.
Sloane has played 100 games for the Crows since making his debut in 2009 and averaged 24 possessions and seven tackles a game last season.
He and teammate Patrick Dangerfield are the two highest profile stars at West Lakes yet to re-sign, with 2010 club champion Richard Douglas also yet to re-commit.
"I'm still really comfortable with where it's all sitting, (I am) still chatting with the club and you guys know better than anyone how I feel about Adelaide and the football Club," Sloane said.
"That'll take care of itself pretty soon I'm sure.
"The standards we've been setting and the team-first attitude we have so far this pre-season excites me."
The Crows will begin their season on Sunday with a clash against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.
Preview Adelaide's Round One opener
The two sides met barely a month ago to kick off their NAB Challenge campaigns, with Adelaide claiming victory by 10 points at Port Lincoln.
Sloane said while the match was an opportunity for the Crows to “get a look” at their Round One opponents, the intensity would reach another level come Sunday afternoon.
“The pressure is not the same in the pre-season games,” he said.
“You definitely notice a step up in pressure when Round One comes, and that’s what we’re going to see from both teams.
“The heat’s really going to be on early and it’ll be whoever can withstand it the best throughout the whole game.”
Adelaide enters its 25th season in the AFL and recently announced it would launch an inaugural Hall of Fame to celebrate the milestone.
Sloane said Sunday’s game would be an important occasion for the Club to kick off the year in the right fashion.
“It’s going to be a huge game for the football Club going into our 25th year,” he said.
“We’ve been preparing ourselves for Round One basically from the start (of pre-season).
“That’s our chance to prove ourselves. It gives 18 clubs a chance to prove themselves. Last year is already forgotten.
“The training and the pre-season games we’ve had, with the team-first attitude, we’re just excited to play Round One footy. That’s all we’re focusing on at the moment.”
