Rory Sloane is a Rolls Royce disguised as a trusty ute.

Dependable, hard-working and near-on unbreakable. But also elite, game-breaking and inspirational.

The Adelaide vice-captain could attract offers of up to $1 million a season on the free agency market this year. You'd expect nothing less for one of the competition's best midfielders.

Despite the recent emergence of the Crouch brothers at West Lakes, Sloane remains Adelaide's most influential onballer and one of the most reliable performers in the AFL.

Sloane's ability to impose himself on games and lift his teammates is rated so highly by his peers that he climbed to ninth in this season's Players’ Top 50 poll, up from 11th last year.

The 2016 All Australian's most eye-catching attribute is the wholehearted way he attacks each contest.

He is a raging bull at stoppages. Last season, he led the Crows in average clearances (6.3 a game, equal 12th in the AFL) and centre clearances (2.6, equal 10th).

He works harder defensively than any other elite midfielder. In 2017, he averaged three pressure acts a game – the next best midfielder was Nat Fyfe with 2.7, while Joel Selwood and Trent Cotchin averaged 1.7, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Sydney's Josh Kennedy one – and was ranked equal third in the competition for average tackles (7.8).

But Sloane is also a potent offensive force.

He can tear opposition zones apart with gut-busting runs up and down the ground, while he pumped the ball inside the Crows' forward 50 more than any other player last season (4.5 a game, equal 13thin the AFL).

The Victorian also enjoyed his most productive year in front of goal in 2017, kicking a sharp-shooting 20.7. Among the competition's full-time midfielders, Sloane's return was topped by only Dangerfield (45 goals), Martin (37) and Dayne Zorko (34), while he equalled the tally of renowned goalkicker Marcus Bontempelli and topped those of Cotchin, Fyfe (both 17), Kennedy (16), Gary Ablett (eight) and Joel Selwood (seven).   

Rory Sloane tackling Port's Riley Bonner in the JLT Community Series

Sloane is the biggest reason why Adelaide has moved on so seamlessly from Dangerfield's departure to Geelong at the end of 2015.

There is no shortage of high-end interest among Melbourne clubs. Sloane's age – he turns 28 on Saturday - might deter some rebuilding teams, but most others have their hats in the ring to varying degrees.The Crows will be desperate to ensure Sloane does not follow his good friend's lead and move home to Victoria.

Despite recent reports in Adelaide that Sloane was close to re-signing, it's understood he is in no rush to make a call on his future.

9. Rory Sloane
Midfielder

Last year's ranking: 11
Official AFL Player Rating: 5
Debut: 2009
Games: 165
AFL Fantasy value: $754,000