Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield are officially rated as ‘elite’ players by statistics specialists Champion Data.

Both Crows vice-captains rank within the top 10 per cent of players in their positions across the AFL.

By the numbers, it appears the Crows’ new joint-vice captains are ready to lead by example in 2014.

Dangerfield is in a league of his own in stats terms. The midfielder is ranked elite in match-defining indicators such as contested possessions, metres gained, centre-bounce clearances and goals for a midfielder/forward. He’s also a contested-ball beast, boasting the highest one-on-one winning percentage of the top 75 forward targets over the past two seasons. A back-to-back All Australian, Dangerfield has developed into arguably the most damaging and explosive player in the competition.

Dangerfield will also start the season as the most expensive Crow in AFL Fantasy 2014 priced at $534,700. But with his prolific scoring power and dual-position status as a Mid/Fwd, the 23-year-old will be worth every cent.

Fellow vice-captain Rory Sloane is also amongst the upper echelon of Champion Data’s analysis. 

Sloane’s aerial game is undoubtedly elite, ranking inside the top three in the AFL for contested marks taken by a midfielder. The golden-haired Crow has also added scoreboard impact to his renowned stoppage work, placing 10th in the AFL over the past two years for initiating scores from clearances. Sloane, who turns 24 in March, is No.1 for pressure acts at the Club, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most selfless and hard-working players in the competition. 

The 2013 Crows Club Champion is an intelligent pick in AFL Fantasy 2014 with his price at a fair $512,600 from his 94 points-per-game average. You’d be brave to bet against Sloane improving those numbers yet again next season.