Rory Sloane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rory Sloane |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Sloane playing for Adelaide in 2017
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Rory Brandon Sloane | ||
| Date of birth | 17 March 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 44, 2008 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 20, 2009, Adelaide v. Hawthorn, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground |
||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Career highlights | |||
|
|||
Rory Brandon Sloane (born 17 March 1990) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Rory was a great midfielder known for his tough play.
He won the Malcolm Blight Medal twice, which is given to the best player at the Adelaide Football Club. In 2016, he was chosen for the All-Australian team, a team of the best players from across the league. He also won a Showdown Medal in 2017. Rory was a leader for his team, serving as co-captain in 2019 and then as the main captain from 2020 to 2022.
Contents
Rory Sloane's Early Life
Rory Brandon Sloane was born on 17 March 1990 in Victoria, Australia. When he was growing up, he supported the St Kilda Football Club.
Rory started playing for the Eastern Ranges under-18 team in the TAC Cup when he was just 16. He later became the captain of the Eastern Ranges team in 2008. The Adelaide Football Club chose him with pick 44 in the 2008 AFL draft. This was the start of his professional football journey.
Rory Sloane's AFL Career
Starting His AFL Journey: 2009–2012
Rory Sloane had a tough start to his AFL career. He hurt his knee before the 2009 season began. But he worked hard and quickly started playing well for North Adelaide in the SANFL. His coach, Neil Craig, said Rory would be an exciting player for the club.
Rory played his first AFL game in round 20 of 2009 against Hawthorn. He didn't kick the ball, but he made seven tackles, showing his strong effort. In 2010, he played his second game but got a serious ankle injury. He still managed to play 14 games that season. He averaged more than 15 disposals (getting the ball) per game as a midfielder. He also signed a new contract with the Crows that year.
In 2011, Rory was injured again in the first game, breaking his jaw and thumb. After he came back, he played the rest of the season. He averaged 20 disposals and 5 tackles per game. In one amazing game against Geelong, he had 36 possessions. He continued to shine in 2012, averaging 22 possessions. He also received three Brownlow votes for being the best player in important wins. Rory signed a three-year deal with the Crows, saying he loved the team environment. In 2013, he played even better, averaging 23.5 possessions. He won his first Malcolm Blight Medal as the Crows' best and fairest player.
Big Success and Leadership: 2013–2018
In 2014, the team captain, Nathan van Berlo, was injured. So, Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield were named acting co-captains for the season. Rory continued to play very well, finishing second in the Malcolm Blight Medal. He played his 100th AFL game in round 23 against St Kilda.
In 2015, Rory signed a new contract to stay with Adelaide until 2018. He injured his cheekbone twice that season, missing five games. Even with the injuries, he was still one of the team's top players.
Rory had an amazing year in 2016. He averaged 25 disposals and led the team in contested possessions (getting the ball in tough situations) and tackles. He was a strong contender for the Brownlow Medal, but a suspension meant he couldn't win it. Rory was awarded his second Malcolm Blight Medal as the club's best player. He was also named vice-captain in the 2016 All-Australian team.
Rory started 2017 incredibly well, winning the Showdown Medal in round 3. He averaged 29.5 disposals per game, and the Crows won their first six games. Other teams started to "tag" him, meaning one player would follow him closely to stop him from getting the ball. This made it harder for him. Before a big final game, Rory had surgery to remove his appendix and missed the match. His teammates respected his strong performances and nominated him for awards.
In 2018, many clubs wanted Rory to move back to his home state of Victoria. But Rory surprised many people by signing a new five-year deal. This meant he would finish his career with the Adelaide Football Club.
Captaincy and Later Career: 2019–2024
In 2019, Rory Sloane became co-captain of the Adelaide Football Club with Taylor Walker. In 2020, he became the sole captain. In round one, he played his 200th AFL game against the Sydney Swans. Even though the club had a tough year, Rory continued to lead as captain.
In 2022, Rory injured his knee, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. This meant he had to miss the rest of the season. Other players shared the captaincy role while he was out. Before the 2023 season, Rory decided to step down as captain. He handed the role over to Jordan Dawson. In 2023, Rory played his 250th game.
After having surgery for a detached retina in 2021, Rory had another surgery for the same issue. In April 2024, Rory announced his retirement from football. He chose to focus on his long-term health. His last game was in round 23 of the 2023 season. At the time he retired, Rory had played the 10th most games for Adelaide. He also had the fourth most Brownlow Medal votes for the club.
Rory Sloane in the Media
Rory Sloane was featured in a TV show called Making Their Mark in 2021. This documentary showed how the COVID-19 pandemic affected AFL clubs and players. In January 2025, it was announced that Rory would join the Nine Network as a panelist on a show called Footy Classified.
Rory Sloane's Personal Life
Rory Sloane has an older brother named Dylan and a younger sister named Shae. Shae was also a professional footballer and played volleyball for Australia.
Rory is very good friends with Taylor Walker, who was drafted at the same time as him. They played 199 games together for Adelaide. Their families are very close, and their children are similar ages.
Rory is married to Belinda Sloane, whose maiden name was Riverso. They got married in October 2016. Rory and Belinda have four children: Leo, Sonny, Bodhi, and Summer. Sadly, their first son, Leo, was stillborn. Rory's third son, Bodhi, has the middle name Leo to remember his older brother.
Honours and Achievements
Team
- McClelland Trophy (Adelaide): 2017
Individual
- Adelaide co-captain: 2019; captain: 2020–2022
- All-Australian team: 2016
- 2× Malcolm Blight Medal: 2013, 2016
- Robert Rose Award: 2017
- Australia representative honours in international rules football: 2017
- Victoria representative honours in State of Origin for Bushfire Relief Match
- Showdown Medal: 2017 (game 1)
- 22under22 team: 2012
