Rory Sloane gets away from Matt de Boer to deliver inspirational final term against the Giants
Giant stopper Matt de Boer was right alongside him for most of the 120-minute arm wrestle but Rory Sloane found the space when it mattered most.
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The competition’s No. 1 stopper Matt de Boer was right alongside Rory Sloane from the opening centre bounce when Greater Western Sydney travelled to take on Adelaide on Saturday night.
And it was that way for most of the 120-minute arm wrestle.
As Sloane worked tirelessly up-and-down the corridor, de Boer was there.
When Sloane was selflessly trying to block the direct opponent of midfield teammate Cam Ellis-Yolmen early in the Round 12 clash, de Boer was there.
The only time Sloane - who went into the game under an injury cloud after a hamstring complaint forced him from the field against Melbourne in Darwin - could get away in the first quarter was when he pushed forward and de Boer stayed in the midfield, turning his attention to Brad Crouch.
But even then, Sloane, who was averaging 25 disposals per game prior to the match, failed to have any impact and after 25 minutes had just one handball to his name.
One handball and one free kick against.
Of course, it was an infringement on de Boer, giving the former Docker his first kick.
It was a similar story in the second term as de Boer continued to wear Sloane like a glove.
The only inch of space Sloane could find was in the defensive 50 as he pushed back to become an option on the rebound.
And he wasn’t getting much help, either.
Matt Crouch knocked into de Boer after Josh Jenkins kicked the first major of the night, less than a minute in.
Ellis-Yolmen chipped in, too, returning the favour to block for him at a stoppage.
But that was about all the support Sloane received, as he managed just seven disposals to half-time.
It didn’t get much better in the third quarter as the 29-year-old Giant continued to shut Sloane out of the game with the star Crow managing just four more disposals.
On the other hand, the Giants’ midfield stars took control.
Josh Kelly tallied 13 disposals and a goal, while Tim Taranto added another eight possessions and a goal to go with his 24-disposal first-half.
As Sloane copped a head knock late in the term and the Giants booted the last four goals of the quarter to take a four-point lead into the final change, Leon Cameron appeared to ease the tag.
It appeared de Boer had done his job – just as he had against Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver and Carlton’s Patrick Cripps in recent weeks.
But Sloane wasn’t done just yet.
With his side staring at another home defeat after blowing a 21-point lead, the inspirational on-field leader hunted the ball relentlessly at the first centre before pushing forward to mark and put the Crows back in front.
Three minutes later, Sloane won an important ground-ball inside 50, which ended up in the hands of Brad Crouch who put Adelaide eight points clear.
It came as little surprise to see de Boer right back by his side.
But Sloane was in the game and he had found space when it mattered most.
Despite the renewed attention, Sloane continued to have an impact, throwing himself at the ball and body to force a number of repeat stoppages.
Sloane pushed forward late in the quarter and, again, de Boer didn’t follow, so it was veteran defender Heath Shaw who was left to mind him.
With three minutes to play, Gallucci sends a high ball inside 50, Sloane wrestled with Shaw, won front spot and took a big contested mark 40 metres out directly in front.
Sloane kicked truly and it was game over.
Turns out Sloane doesn’t need much help.
Or doesn’t need a lot of space to have an impact.
But many in the AFL world already knew that.
The 29-year-old tallied six disposals, four contested possessions, two goals and game-high 58 Champion Data ranking points in an influential final term.
And, despite de Boer’s terrific performance for the first 90 minutes, it’s Sloane’s final quarter which fans will remember.
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