The Adelaide Crows paid huge respect to club great Rory Sloane in Thursday night’s 30-point win over the Power, with a teammate reduced to tears over the midfielder’s forced retirement.
The dual Crows best and fairest and 2016 All-Australian told teammates and staff on Monday he would be stepping away from the game as a result of a training incident earlier this season.
The 34-year-old suffered a detached retina, which required two surgeries and extensive consultation with medical experts on a potential return, before he made the agonising call to end his 255-game career.
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The former skipper did a lap of honour pre-game at Adelaide Oval and the Crows then farewelled him in style, getting in front early in the first quarter and staying there the rest of the game in a comfortable 12.6 (78) to 5.18 (48) victory over Port Adelaide in the Showdown.
Adelaide key forward Taylor Walker, who played 199 games alongside the popular blond midfielder, became emotional in a post-match interview you can see in the video player above.
“How much did it mean to celebrate him tonight and was it talked about much pre-game?” former AFLW star Erin Phillips asked the man known as “Tex”.
“Yeah it was, we touched on it,” he began. “I might get a bit emotional here, but I love him and his beautiful family you know.
“So to not be able to play with him again, it’s tough, but I think he’s made the right decision for life after footy.
“He’s got a beautiful family, so what he’s been able to do in those 255 games, not just the Crows fans but the footy world have been so lucky to see a beautiful man play football in the right spirit.
“It was a great win for a great man.”
Sloane had trialled different protective eyewear while on a modified training program, but decided to stop pursuing a comeback after 16 seasons at the top level.
He risked long-term repercussions if he sustained another injury to his eye so opted to hang up the boots.
“I have given it my all to get back to playing and generally speaking my body is in great shape, but ultimately, the risk of another eye injury is too great,” he said announcing his decision.
“More so the impact it could have on my life and the potential for loss of vision.
“I’ve come to realise this is definitely not like the more common injuries you can get from playing the game.”
Sloane was chaired from the ground after the full-time siren, on the shoulders of Walker and Matt Crouch, while there was a huge outpouring of thanks from the Crows home crowd.
Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall and former St Kilda All-Australian Leigh Montagna both gave their tributes to him on Fox Footy.
“We continue to wax lyrical about Rory Sloane,” Dunstall said. “He’s just such a nice fellow and universally loved.
“And I think that says a lot. When you can’t find anyone to say something mean or contrary or mildly controversial, you know you’re a decent fella.”
Montagna felt the Crows might have lifted that little bit more to give the club great a worthy send-off.
“You look at a player like Rory Sloane … I know it was a Showdown and people think you shouldn’t be trying any harder anyway,” he said.
“But if you are a group of players you look at each other and say if you need to give a little bit more, can we just send this guy off in the right way, for everything he’s done for this football club.
“It would be nice to repay the favour and that’s certainly what they’ve delivered.”