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Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane has been forced into immediate retirement by the threat of further eye damage.
Sloane, 34, had a second bout of surgery on a detached retina in January, following an original procedure in 2021.
After extensive consultation with doctors and eye specialists, Sloane – who had already appeared to be in his final AFL season – informed his teammates on Monday he was calling time on his career.
“I have given it my all to get back to playing, and generally speaking my body is in great shape and I’m mentally fresh,” Sloane said.
“But ultimately, the risk of another eye injury is too great.
“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.
“Our footy club is a special place and I have absolutely loved every minute of my career, and along the way I have grown and experienced so much as a person and footballer.”
Sloane has had a lengthy history of eye injuries, including a torn retina in 2013 and a fractured eye socket in 2017.
The midfielder played 255 games for Adelaide across 16 seasons, winning club best and fairest awards in 2013 and 2016.
He came fourth in the Brownlow Medal and was All Australian in 2016, and crucial to the Crows’ charge to the 2017 grand final.
The midfielder was appointed co-captain alongside Taylor Walker in 2019 and was sole skipper from 2020-2022.
“It’s hard to actually come up with the appropriate words to describe Sloaney’s impact on our club,” coach Matthew Nicks said.
“Other than to say he will go down as one of the most influential people to have ever come through the doors.
“I challenge anyone to find a more positive person and his courage and strength of leadership – in good and tough times – is right up there with the very best.
“His on-field achievements speak for themselves but it’s also his genuine care for others which stands out, and it’s one of the fundamental values at our club.”
(AAP)
Rory Sloane during an Adelaide Crows AFL Grand Final training session at Adelaide Oval on September 27, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Kane Cornes has rubbished suggestions Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir was partly responsible for the dangerous tackle from St Kilda’s Jack Higgins that left him concussed, and saw the Saint hit with a three-match suspension.
Debate has erupted following the incident on Friday night, with Aliir unable to take any further part in the match after half time and ruled out of the Power’s Showdown clash with Adelaide on Thursday night under the AFL’s concussion protocols.
Match Review Officer Michael Christian deemed Higgins’ tackle careless conduct with severe impact and high contact, triggering the three-match ban – the highest suspension Christian has the power to give.
Speaking on Fox Footy, however, former great Jordan Lewis said he felt sorry for Higgins, claiming Aliir ‘contributes 50 per cent’ to the incident by attempting to kick the ball.
“I feel for Higgins – if Aliir Aliir understands that he’s being tackled and doesn’t then try to kick the ball, then there’s probably no case to answer for,” Lewis said on Friday night.
“I think it’s 50/50 – I think Aliir contributes 50 per cent of that force by going to the ground trying to dispose the ball.”
However, Cornes said on SEN Breakfast Lewis was entirely wrong.
“Pull your socks up to anyone who is critical of Aliir for trying to kick the ball,” Cornes said.
“The rules state if you’ve had prior, if you get tackled, you are required to make an effort to dispose of the ball – then we’re sitting here being critical of Aliir for trying to kick the ball.
“He’s [Higgins] got one arm, so he can’t handball it; his only option, in the rules, is to kick the ball. How could you be critical of Aliir and place any blame on him for trying to kick the ball?”
The Saints have confirmed they will challenge Higgins’ suspension at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
Aliir Aliir is tackled by Jack Higgins. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Carlton defender Zac Williams’ spot in the Blues’ team has come under question, after a series of poor efforts from the veteran defender in their loss to Geelong were exposed.
Williams is in the fourth year of a monster six-year deal with the Blues estimated at roughly $900,000 a season, but has struggled to live up to those lofty expectations since crossing from GWS at the end of 2020.
Having returned from a knee injury that saw him miss the entire 2023 season, the 29-year old’s form has been patchy amid the Blues’ bright start to 2024, and speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack, former North Melbourne great David King was scathing of his performance against the Cats, claiming Williams is ‘not angry or hard enough’.
“I think [there’s] big question marks on Zac Williams, the big-money recruit, to come into a game like this and actually have an impact,” King said.
“I know he’s missed a bit of footy and we give him his dues for that – but getting outbodied by undersized small forwards, rolling up to stoppage, dump-kicking at the wrong times – just the wrong decisions at the wrong times.
“Nothing physical in this, [it’s] all state of mind stuff, for me. Just not angry enough, not hard enough.”
One particularly damning example showcased was Williams being outmarked near goal by small forward Tyson Stengle, despite the Cats star’s diminutive 172 centimetre frame.
King is adamant the Blues should consider moving on from Williams, despite his lofty price tag.
“I don’t know if you can push forward with this sort of player… if you’ve got standards at your footy club, and ‘Vossy’ [coach Michael Voss] was strong in the post-match about the defensive side of the game, then for me, you can’t push forward with Zac Williams in the short-term.
“You have to have a refresh – I’d be putting [Jaxon] Binns in, who was the sub, and saying ‘it’s your opportunity’.
“You’ve got to set standards. If you accept it or walk past it, that’s what you’ll become. I think you’ve got to make a call – the way he [Voss] spoke in the post-match has to be backed up by selection. You have to hold that as a premium.
“He’s not banned for life, but in the short term, go back [to the VFL], reset, and you’ll get another opportunity down the track.”
Williams has, however, been vindicated after being accused of taking a dive at a key moment in the Blues’ loss.
The defender went to ground after being clipped by Cat Ollie Henry, with Henry marking inside 50 a few moments later and kicking a goal.
Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall slammed Williams for going down ‘a bit too easily’, with King claiming he ‘played for the free kick and lost’.
However, Henry was handed a hefty $6,520 fine for the incident, with Match Review Officer Michael Christian deeming it incidental conduct, low impact and body contact.
If Henry accepts the charge, the fine will be reduced to $3,750.
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Rhylee West’s high bump on a Fremantle opponent has cost the Western Bulldogs player a one-game suspension for rough conduct.
Rhylee West’s shepherd on Fremantle opponent Brandon Walker has cost the Western Bulldogs player a one-game AFL ban for rough conduct.
West collected Walker high as the Bulldogs set up Sam Darcy for a goal in the second term of Saturday night’s loss to Optus Stadium.
The incident was graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
It means West will miss next Sunday’s match against Hawthorn unless they successfully take the case to the AFL Tribunal.
West is the latest player to face suspension under the league’s crackdown on high contact.
Walker was left on hands and knees after the incident, but he was cleared of concussion and played out the game.
Geelong’s Ollie Henry was fined for striking Carlton player Zac Williams, and Blues forward Harry McKay was also fined for umpire contact.
(AAP)
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