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 very important player for the Crows. He won the Malcolm Blight Medal twice, which is given to the club's best player. In 2016, he was chosen for the All-Australian team. He also won a special award called the 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 in Victoria, Australia, on 17 March 1990.
When he was growing up, Rory supported the St Kilda Football Club. He started playing for the Eastern Ranges under-18 team in the TAC Cup when he was only 16. Later, in 2008, he became the captain of the Eastern Ranges team. The Adelaide Football Club chose him in the 2008 AFL draft as pick number 44.
Rory Sloane's AFL Career
Starting His Journey: 2009–2012
Rory Sloane had a knee injury before the 2009 season began. But he quickly got better and started playing well for North Adelaide in the SANFL. His coach, Neil Craig, said Rory would be an "exciting player" for the team. Rory played his first AFL game in round 20, 2009. He made seven tackles in that game.
In 2010, Rory played his second AFL game but got a serious ankle injury. This kept him out of the team for several weeks. He returned to play 14 games that season, getting about 15 possessions per game as a midfielder. He also signed a new contract with the Crows that year.
Rory was injured again in the first game of 2011, breaking his jaw and thumb. After he recovered, he played the rest of the season. He averaged 20 possessions and 5 tackles per game. In one game against Geelong, he had an amazing 36 possessions. In 2012, he continued to play very well, averaging 22 possessions. He also signed a new three-year deal with the Crows. In 2013, Rory played even better, averaging 23.5 possessions. He won the 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 became the acting co-captains for the Adelaide Football Club. Rory continued to play strongly in 2014. He finished 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 injuries, he was still one of the team's top players.
Rory had an amazing year in 2016. He averaged 25 possessions and led the team in contested possessions and tackles. He was considered for the Brownlow Medal, but a suspension made him ineligible. Rory won 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 very well, winning the Showdown Medal in round 3. He averaged 29.5 possessions per game, and the Crows won their first six games. Other teams started to "tag" him, meaning they put a player specifically to stop him. 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 two important awards.
In 2018, many clubs wanted Rory to move back to his home state of Victoria. However, Rory surprised many people by signing a new five-year contract. This meant he would finish his career playing for Adelaide.
Captaincy and Final Years: 2019–2024
In 2019, Rory Sloane became a co-captain of the Adelaide Football Club with Taylor Walker.
In 2020, Rory became the sole captain of the team. 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 for most games.
In 2022, Rory injured his knee in a game against Richmond. Scans showed he had a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, which meant he would miss the rest of the season. Other players took turns being captain 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.
Rory had surgery for a detached retina in 2021 and again in 2024. He announced his retirement in April 2024. He chose to stop playing to focus on his long-term health. His last game was in round 23 of the 2023 season. When 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 show looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected AFL clubs, players, and staff.
In January 2025, it was announced that Rory Sloane would join the Nine Network as a panel member on a show called Footy Classified.
Rory Sloane's Personal Life
Rory has an older brother named Dylan and a younger sister named Shae. Shae used to play professional football for Melbourne and 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 until Rory retired in 2024. Their families are also 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 Leo as his middle name to remember his older brother.
Honours and Achievements
Team Awards
- McClelland Trophy (Adelaide): 2017
- NAB Cup: 2012 (Adelaide)
Individual Awards
- 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
