In a rollercoaster decade, loyal servant Rory Sloane headlines the Crows’ greatest players of the 2010s
Tough, tenacious midfielder Rory Sloane edges out a handful of fellow All-Australians to be the Adelaide Crows’ player of the decade. SEE OUR TOP 20 LIST.
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Few clubs endured such a rollercoaster ride in the 2010s than Adelaide.
Entering the decade on the back of five consecutive finals appearances, the Crows lost their first six games under six-year mentor Neil Craig in 2010 and by round 18 the following season he was gone and temporarily replaced by dual premiership skipper Mark Bickley.
Inaugural Crows player Brenton Sanderson was handed the leadership reins in 2012 and tasted immediate success, steering the club to within a kick of a grand final appearance when it was beaten by five points by Hawthorn in the preliminary final.
But Sanderson’s honeymoon period did not last long, as the club stumbled to 11th and 10th in the next two years and he joined Craig in the sacked coaches club.
Former Port Adelaide senior assistant and football mastermind Phil Walsh replaced him and tasted early success, winning seven of his first 12 games in charge before being killed by his son, rocking the club to its core and sending shockwaves through the AFL.
Assistant coach Scott Camporeale bravely took the reins for the rest of the season before dual West Coast premiership midfielder Don Pyke was appointed as the sixth person to coach the club in the decade.
Pyke took the Crows to sixth in his first season in charge in 2016 and minor premier in 2017.
But after starting the 2017 grand final as hot favourite against Richmond, Adelaide – playing in its third flag decider and first since 1998 – did not bring its ‘A’ game and slumped to a disastrous eight-goal loss.
The Crows have not recovered.
Young aces Jake Lever (Melbourne) and Charlie Cameron (Brisbane) quit after the grand final, joining a host of other key interstate recruits to depart in the 2010s, including Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Kurt Tippett (Sydney), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Phil Davis (GWS), Mitch McGovern (Carlton) and Nathan Bock (Gold Coast).
This was followed by the infamous pre-season ‘mind’ training camp on the Gold Coast from which the club suffered irreversible damage, leading to consecutive years without finals and the departures of Pyke, Camporeale, head of football Brett Burton and a host of senior players.
But Adelaide produced some of the AFL's finest players in the decade.
Here is The Advertiser's top 20 based on service and impact.
1. RORY SLOANE
2010-19
Midfielder
Tough and combative, Sloane played more games and averaged more SuperCoach points than any other Crow in the 2010s.
Expected to be named sole captain in 2020 after sharing the role with Taylor Walker last season, Victorian Sloane stayed loyal while some other key players from interstate left.
An All-Australian in 2016, twice club champion and runner-up three times.
GAMES: 198. GOALS: 122.
SC AVE: 102.7.
2. PATRICK DANGERFIELD
2010-15
Midfielder
One of the most dynamic players to represent the club, the speedy, powerful on-baller made three All-Australian teams and notched four consecutive top-10 Brownlow Medal placings between 2012-15.
Won the Crows club champion award in 2015 before breaking fans hearts by moving home to Victoria to join Geelong.
GAMES: 131. GOALS: 141.
SC AVE: 101.8.
3. EDDIE BETTS
2014-19
Small forward
One of the most electrifying small forwards to play the game became one of the most popular players in Crows history, even having a pocket (the Eddie Betts pocket) unofficially named after him at Adelaide Oval.
Was four-times Adelaide’s leading goalkicker, a triple All-Australian and won AFL goal of the year three times.
Rejoined former club Carlton at the end of the year.
GAMES: 132. GOALS: 310.
SC AVE: 77.2.
4. SAM JACOBS
2011-19
Ruckman
Popular, ironman ruckman played 181 of a possible 185 games from 2011-19 before undergoing knee surgery after round two this year.
The former Blue was a triple All-Australian nominee and finished in the top-10 of club champion voting five times while winning three Showdown Medals.
Joined GWS at the end of the season.
GAMES: 184. GOALS: 45.
SC AVE: 95.9.
5. RORY LAIRD
2013-19
Defender
Prolific ballwinning defender came off the rookie list to become a club champion (in 2018 when he averaged 32 disposals) and dual All-Australian.
Has finished in the top three of the best and fairest in four of the past five years, illustrating his class and consistency.
GAMES: 143. GOALS: 12.
SC AVE: 91.1.
6. DANIEL TALIA
2011-19
Key defender
Lockdown backman is Adelaide’s only AFL Rising Star winner, claiming the award in 2012.
Club champion in 2014 and a dual All-Australian, the reliable Talia has been the centrepiece of the Crows’ defence, managing six top-10 best and fairest placings.
GAMES: 186. GOALS: 6.
SC AVE: 61.8.
7. TAYLOR WALKER
2010-19
Key forward
Broken Hill product kicked more goals for Adelaide in the decade than any other player, with 403.
Three-times club leading goalkicker overcame a knee reconstruction in 2013 to captain the club from 2015-19 before stepping aside at the end of the season.
A triple All-Australian nominee and named the AFLPA’s best captain in 2016 and 2017.
GAMES: 175. GOALS: 403.
SC AVE: 76.9.
8. SCOTT THOMPSON
2010-17
Midfielder
Former Demon was a tough, midfield ball magnet who fell one vote short of tying eventual winners Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin for the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
An All-Australian that year, he won consecutive club champion awards in 2011-12 and was described by former coach Don Pyke as a “true champion’’ of the club.
GAMES: 153. GOALS: 53.
SC AVE: 99.9.
9. BRODIE SMITH
2011-19
Defender
Long-kicking, hard-running defender was an All-Australian at 22 in 2014 and has four top-10 best and fairest finishes.
Was cut down by a serious knee injury in the 2017 finals, forcing him to miss the grand final and spend nearly a year on the sidelines.
Had an impact in the midfield last season.
GAMES: 167. GOALS: 57.
SC AVE: 77.7.
10. TOM LYNCH
2012-19
Tall forward
Nicknamed “The Connector’’ because of his ability to link the Crows’ defence to attack, the versatile Lynch – a former Saint – is a dual All-Australian nominee and was leading goalkicker in 2013 when he became just the third player in club history to kick 10 or more goals in a game, joining Tony Modra and Scott Hodges.
GAMES: 133. GOALS: 185.
SC AVE: 81.6.
11. MATT CROUCH
2014-19
Midfielder
Ball magnet and younger brother of Brad, Crouch had a season for the ages in 2017 when he broke the AFL record for most disposals in a season, with 825, before it was eclipsed by Hawthorn Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell the following year.
Was club champion and All-Australian the same year.
GAMES: 109. GOALS: 26.
SC AVE: 93.9.
12. JOSH JENKINS
2012-19
Key forward/ruckman
Lured as an untried Essendon player in 2011, Jenkins kicked the third-most goals for the club in the decade, with 296.
He was leading goalkicker in 2018 and booted more than 40 goals in each season from 2014-18.
An All-Australian nominee in 2016, he was traded to Geelong at the end of the year.
GAMES: 147. GOALS: 296.
SC AVE: 74.2.
13. RICHARD DOUGLAS
2010-19
Midfielder
Stamped himself as one of Adelaide’s best players at the start of the decade, winning the best and fairest in 2010 and being runner-up and an All-Australian nominee in 2013.
Excelled around goal, reaching double figures in eight of the past 10 years.
GAMES: 190. GOALS: 126.
SC AVE: 84.0.
14. BRAD CROUCH
2013-19
Midfielder
The player the Crows consider to be their highest-ever draft pick (No. 2 in the 2011 mini-draft as a 17-year-old access player from the Giants) has had his career curtailed by injury, missing the entire 2015 and 2018 seasons.
But he illustrated his class by winning his first club champion award in a full season this year, averaging 30 disposals.
GAMES: 83. GOALS: 32.
SC AVE: 93.3.
15. LUKE BROWN
2012-19
Small defender
Unobtrusive, lockdown small defender has been a model of consistency, shutting down some of the competition’s best small forwards.
Is one of only nine Crows to play 150 games in the decade, managing more than 20 a season from 2013-18.
GAMES: 150. GOALS: 13.
SC AVE: 61.5.
16. DAVID MACKAY
2010-19
Wingman/half-back
Has never really won the Crows fans over but ranks 13th in total games at the club, with 220, including 181 in the 2010s.
Had his first top-10 best and fairest finish this year, placing 10th, to earn a contract extension.
Pace and run-and-carry are his greatest attributes.
GAMES: 181. GOALS: 49.
SC AVE: 69.2.
17. BEN RUTTEN
2010-14
Key defender
Nicknamed “Truck’, Rutten held down full back early in the decade, finishing inside the top 10 in the best and fairest three times (2010-11 and 2013).
He was the club’s longtime backline marshall before Talia took over.
Has been named Essendon senior coach for 2021.
GAMES: 103. GOALS: 3.
SC AVE: 60.8.
18. NATHAN VAN BERLO
2010-16
Midfielder/half-back
Like Mackay, van Berlo polarised Crows fans but he was a super professional, elite runner and great team man who was captain from 2011-13.
Was runner-up club champion and a Showdown Medallist in 2011.
Ruptured an Achilles tendon at training in 2014 and missed the entire campaign.
GAMES: 108. GOALS: 42.
SC AVE: 75.0.
19. CHARLIE CAMERON
2014-17
Small forward/midfielder
Rookie draft pick became one of recruiting guru Hamish Ogilvie’s great steals, kicking 78 goals in three seasons from 2015-17 when he formed a key part of a high-octane attack.
Starred with five goals in the 2017 preliminary final win against Geelong before shocking the club by demanding a trade to Brisbane.
GAMES: 73. GOALS: 87.
SC AVE: 65.3.
20. BRENT REILLY
2010-14
Midfielder/half-back
One of 16 players to have played more than 200 games for the club, Reilly played some of his best football early in the decade, finishing top-10 in the best and fairest three times and being an All-Australian nominee in 2012.
Cruelly suffered serious head injuries in a training incident in 2015 which ended his career.
GAMES: 203. GOALS: 52.
SC AVE: 73.9.
