Sloane was one of a number of Crows to take their game to another level this season. Added to the Club’s leadership group in just his fourth season, the 22-year-old relished the added responsibility.
He started the season in blinding fashion, averaging 24 possessions in his first 10 games to lead the voting in Adelaide’s Best and Fairest award up until the bye.
He amassed a career-high 33 possessions and three goals in a best-on-ground display against Fremantle in Round 10 - a performance which earned him the only maximum votes (eight) from the Crows coaches this season.
He missed only one match through injury, notching up his 50th career game against Geelong in Round 18. Coach Brenton Sanderson said Sloane was a worthy recipient of the Coach’s Award.
“It’s almost impossible to give this award to only one player because we’ve got a group of passionate young men, who just give themselves to the footy club each week … and Rory Sloane is certainly one of those,” he said.
Sloane said lessons learned from some past Adelaide greats had contributed to his improvement in 2012.
“I barracked for the Saints growing up, so I loved guys like Aussie Jones and Robert Harvey,” Sloane said.
“Since I’ve come to Adelaide, I’ve loved watching and playing alongside Michael Doughty, Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, in my old No.9 guernsey. I’ve learned a lot from those players over the past few years.
“I can’t even comprehend how it’s going to be without ‘Dogga’ next year. He’s two lockers away from me and it’ll be weird seeing someone else in the No.11.”
Sloane's running goal in the wet against Greater Western Sydney in Round Four was one of the finalists for the AFL Goal of the Year.
“I’ve never got off the ground to take Mark of the Year, so it was nice to have a goal nominated,” Sloane said with a laugh.
A tireless and willing worker, Sloane also attracted 11 Brownlow Medal votes to finish behind Scott Thompson (26) and Patrick Dangerfield (23) on the Crows leaderboard.
The outcome was similar at the Convention Centre on Friday night, with Sloane polling 89 votes to finish behind Thompson and Dangerfield and add a third-place Best-and-Fairest finish to his Coach’s Award. Sloane finished sixth in the Crows Club Champion award in 2011.
