With Rory Sloane locked away for a further three AFL seasons, Adelaide will now turn their full attention to retaining Patrick Dangerfield.
Sloane had been linked with St Kilda this year and would have attracted serious interest from a bevy of Victorian clubs had he decided to return to his home state.
But on Monday the star midfielder signed a new deal tying him to the club until at least the end of 2018, declaring he never thought about leaving the Crows.
“I didn’t consider other interest at all,” Sloane said.
“I was really comfortable with where we were at the whole time and had constant talks with the footy club.
“My fiancee, Belinda, and I … we just needed some time to think about things outside of football.”
Retaining uncontracted guns Dangerfield and Sloane became the club’s top priority after captain Taylor Walker put pen to paper last November.
Dangerfield is yet to re-sign, with both Sloane and list manager David Noble tight-lipped about the issue on Monday.
“I’m not going to really comment on other guys’ contracts. It’s not up to me,” Sloane said, adding he hadn’t broached the issue with Dangerfield.
“It’s their decision to make.”
If Dangerfield were to leave as a free agent, Geelong shapes as the most likely destination.
Noble was unwilling to provide an update on contract talks with Dangerfield.
“We’ve got a number of players that are out (of contract) … we’ve made it a policy for us to not talk about individuals,” he told radio station SEN.
“We just won’t be going down that path of making any comment. We’ll see how it unfolds.”
Manager Paul Connors suggested on Sunday that money would not factor in Dangerfield’s decision.
“The only lure that probably would get him home would be Moggs Creek, to the family,” Connors told the Nine Network.
“That’ll play out over the next four months.”
Meanwhile, Sloane nominated his teammates and coach Phil Walsh as two of the factors that led to him staying.
“The key people we have around the footy club, this year in particular, and the direction they’re taking us is really exciting,” he said.
“I’m very relieved. It’s a proud day for myself and the footy club.”
Sloane has played 107 games for the Crows since debuting in 2009 and won the club’s best and fairest award in 2013.
After missing three games earlier this season with a fractured cheekbone, Sloane has made an immediate impact on his return to the senior team.
“Rory epitomises the type of person we want,” coach Phil Walsh told the Crows’ website.
“He lives by elite standards and inspires others to do the same.”
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Apart from one five-goal game, GWS forward Toby Greene has only kicked six goals from the other eight games. He's traditionally had success against the Western Bulldogs.
Bayley Fritsch should become an even more important player from a structural perspective, given key forward Jacob van Rooyen will be unavailable due to concussion.
Kane Cornes was trying to highlight Adelaide's problem with intercept marks, but Hutchy saw it as another attack on Tex Walker.
The Crows and Lions played out the second draw of the 2024 AFL season, with scores locked at 90-all at the final siren.
Tom Hawkins returns to familiar surroundings of Geelong - but is it the tonic he needs to regain some of his confidence back after a goalless four games.
Jeremy Finlayson should be a welcome addition to the Port Adelaide forward line after kicking four goals in the SANFL last week.
