Rory Sloane has been recognised with the Chelsea Phillis Coaches Award for Season 2015.
Sloane, 25, continued to have a significant influence despite a frustrating year with injury.
The 2013 Crows Club Champion started the season in sensational fashion, amassing 30 or more possessions in two of the opening three games.
It seems coaches everywhere love the popular Crow – after three rounds, Sloane was only two votes behind Fremantle star and Brownlow Medal favourite, Nat Fyfe, in second spot in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award.
He was equal-fifth on the overall leaderboard when he fractured his cheekbone for the first time against Gold Coast in Round Six. Sloane returned after a month, only to reinjure his cheekbone on the return trip to Queensland to play the Brisbane Lions a few weeks later.
During his time on the sidelines, Sloane played a role in the coaches’ box on game day and remained a strong leader of the playing group following the tragic passing of Senior Coach Phil Walsh.
On the field, the influential onballer averaged 22 possessions, four clearances, four inside 50ms and six tackles per game. Sloane’s possessions were damaging – he ranked third at Adelaide in score assists (28) from only 18 matches this season. He also kicked 11 goals.
Sloane, who polled in half of the games he played, finished with 38 votes in the AFLCA Player of the Year award behind only fellow midfielders Patrick Dangerfield (65) and Scott Thompson (43) at Adelaide.
A tireless worker and respected figure, Sloane was instrumental in the Club’s Elimination Final win over the Western Bulldogs and stood tall even when things weren’t going his team’s way.
It’s the second time Sloane has won the Chelsea Phillis Coaches Award, having claimed the honour in 2012.
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. Mark Bickley and Robert Shirley both won the award three times.
The Coaches Award was re-named in 2009 in memory of two-year-old Crows fan Chelsea Phillis, who passed away suddenly. Chelsea's family selflessly deciding to donate her organs to help others.
Coaches Award winners
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
