Rory Sloane says his standout performance against St Kilda had nothing to do with suggestions from Club legend Mark Ricciuto the Crows should consider trading the gutsy midfielder.
Last week, Ricciuto floated the idea of Adelaide making the tough call to trade the much-loved Sloane for a key-position player in the mould of Geelong premiership player Harry Taylor.
Coach Brenton Sanderson quickly dismissed the idea, saying the emerging Crows leader was virtually untouchable. Sloane was instrumental against the Saints. He ignited Adelaide in the second quarter, amassing 15 possessions and six marks. He was tagged by Jarryn Geary after half-time and finished the match with 25 touches, 12 marks and a goal assist.
In typical Sloane fashion, he found a way to turn the trade talk into a positive.
“Roo (Ricciuto) works in the media now and he’s entitled to his opinion,” Sloane said after the game.
“If you actually read the article, he pumps me up a lot so I was pretty chuffed as well. It’s Roo’s opinion … and it obviously stirred up a few supporters.
“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere at all.”
Sloane has been one of Adelaide’s most consistent performers in the opening eight rounds.
The blond-haired Crow has posted career-best figures, averaging 23.3 possessions (up on 21.8 last season) and 6.5 marks (up on 4.7). He’s collected more disposals (186) than any other Crow with the exception of Scott Thompson (217), and leads the Club in loose-ball gets (29) and marks with 52 (ranked 16th in the AFL).
Ruckman Sam Jacobs paid tribute to Sloane’s remarkable work ethic and ‘gut running’.
“Sloaney is amazing. He’s starting to get a bit more attention from opposition teams now and it’s a credit to him because he works hard,” Jacobs said.
“He might not be our top endurance runner over the pre-season, but come game time he’s definitely one of the best because he just wills himself (to contests).”
