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)
‘Only option he’s got’: Cornes weighs in on Saint’s dangerous tackle
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)
‘Not hard enough’: Big-money Blue slammed for poor decisions
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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Dog handed one-match ban for bump
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)
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Laura Kane is woke and has no common sense. Just another DEI (Didn’t Earn It) appointment to a position she does not understand nor have the experience to be in. She needs to go, and player weights need to come back. Don’t understand why this isn’t a bigger issue with footy fans? The woke media will just fall into line and continue to virtue signal to the minority. It makes the AFL an embarrassment for a professional sporting organization …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Blows me away how much they’re paying a half back flanker, and for how long! If he wasn’t playing AFL he’d probably be working as a gardener or whatever, which is no disrespect to gardeners. $900,000 a year for an average half back whilst most people struggle to keep their heads above water is a disgrace. Really annoys me how much these guys are paid to kick a footy around, especially the ones who aren’t much good …
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Yeah you too.I miss SA been living in QLD for quite some time...
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
It was nice chatting with ya. I miss SA. The footy culture here in NSW is weird, whether you follow AFL, NRL or soccer.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
lol yeah alot of the greats from the SANFL era were from country areas,probably moved to the city and started playing for sanfl u/17 or u19 sides,under 15 probably to young to move into the cities schooling etc so yeah under 15 country team would have some talent in it
nostats
Roar Rookie
i watched the game but missed that incident, ihave no answer as to why exept the ump being abit antsy.part of the game we have .over easter in one game a player was asked to stand three times without penalty iwouldve thought 2 maximum but nothing.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Westies use to have a strong connection with country rep teams. Not sure if they still do. We played an U15s match against a country rep team at Mt Barker. We were undefeated for the year, premiers, and got totally flogged by them. 8 goal mauling. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Macca
Roar Rookie
PS - what level of education did Lindsay Fox achieve?
Macca
Roar Rookie
You really should put that “double down” line into the full context in which it was said.p, remembering that even Dunstall said he wouldn’t get through a preseason these days And I am glad you bring up my discussion of other topics, I am regularly criticised on here for using too many stats – that is because if I claim a player has poor skills I reference his disposal efficiency, if I say they are an outside player I refer ne contested possession, tackles, 1%ers etc. I attempt to back ever opinion with verifiable fact. What I don’t do is question the character of a player who is doing something very few people can do. You have never met me, have no idea about me beyond what I post and yet claim to know everything about me, you have never met Williams don’t know what he does every week to play at the highest level (or overcome severe injuries or personal trauma) but believe you are entitled to criticise his character. They really do give out a God complex when you become a doctor As for double standards – again look how you reacted when you felt your character was being questioned and consider if that’s a double standard, I think most will see it was. Now the proceedings are closed.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Only country football in the Barossa league,lots of SANFL players ended up out there,Matt Davoren Roger Luders,Graeme Dunstan Richard Anderson Jamie Thomas Gav Chaplain Wilbur Wilson Michael Graham Garth Newton Ian Detmann Malcom Mcgrath,Dave Harvey Brenton Owens Roger James etc etc .Good fun playing with some and against them ,think Grantly Fielke played there after westies but I had left by then
Macca
Roar Rookie
Strange then taht he didn’t either ask Cripps to get out or Cameron to get behind the mark
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
:thumbup: It happens to the best of us.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
You play yourself, Maxy?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Please refer to my final post on this topic below.
nostats
Roar Rookie
im not 100%sure ( im living dangerously here)but i think willams was best on ground in two and very good in the other of his last 3 games against pies at giants, buckley added $200k per year to his worth by letting him run free.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Jack Cahill. I played most of my games at Westies, and just couldn't hold down a permanent position on the wing at Port when I moved. It was a mistake. Francis on one, with Ando on the other. As good as Ando became, Francis was amazing! Such a talent.
nostats
Roar Rookie
if ump wanted player walking away to stand mark seems ump may have been acerting his authority,i.e i will set the mark not you
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
He was number one on listical on AFL thugs.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
My discussion seems nonsensical because you fail to see the double standard that diminishes yours. This contradiction is pertinent to the rest of your comments, which I'll outline in this thread to make it easier for you to understand. The issue is not whether you were joking initially about the SANFL players being soft. If you say that was the case, I can accept it. However, please understand your doubling down on that comment with the following is highly suggestive that it wasn't tongue-in-cheek: "I really have an issue with former players who who did half the running these blokes do and twice the partying" If you believe your previous statement or the one preceding it would ruffle feathers like mine, I suggest you enrol in the David Boon School of Sledging. Feel free to continue your self-refereeing, but it's futile. Regarding your education, I emphasised your probable intellect based on what can be measured, i.e. how you write, rather than from a self-proclaimed resume. This, coupled with your criteria that preclude the majority from forming an opinion on the softness of an AFL player, could then be extended to other areas, some of which you need to have the required intellect to pass judgment based on such criteria. You freely admit to having no issue discussing different aspects of the game. This is another example of another double standard based on how you write, should you wish to discuss decision-making skills, tactical nous, etc. I don't expect you to understand most of that, but you can't accuse me of not trying to help. In summary, Williams is soft. There is nothing further to say. These proceedings, are closed.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Blighty is a legend,a couple of my friends played at the WoodPeckers/Warriors so I met him before.Who coached you at Port Jack Cahill Russell Ebert or Stephen Williams,not sure of your age...must be one of them that would give me some idea