Rory Sloane the man to lead the Crows after Tex steps down from main leadership role
With Taylor Walker calling time on his on-field leadership role at the Crows on Wednesday, his 2019 co-captain Rory Sloane looks likely to take the job outright in 2020.
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Rory Sloane is poised to lead Adelaide in his own right next season after Taylor Walker sensationally stepped down from the co-captaincy on Wednesday.
Just a week after Walker revealed he was weighing up his leadership future, the key forward on Wednesday officially walked away from the role in a bid to focus on his own game and spend more time with his family.
After being appointed sole skipper by new coach Phil Walsh in 2015, Walker captained the Crows 105 times in five seasons — the second-most at the club behind legendary skipper Mark Ricciuto (142).
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Dual premiership captain Mark Bickley led the team into action 102 times.
Walker, 29, has carried a heavy burden in his captaincy reign, with mentor Walsh passing away in his first season in charge.
#BREAKING: Taylor Walker has decided to step down as Crows captain #weflyasone
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) September 4, 2019
He also has battled form and injury problems but was so highly respected by his peers that he was twice voted the AFL Players’ Association captain of the year — in 2016 and 2017.
Sloane, who was in his first season as co-leader alongside Walker this year, is a raging hot favourite to be stand alone skipper next year after a big off-season of change at the West Lakes club where an external review — led by AFL legends Jason Dunstall and Matthew Pavlich — is under way.
Sloane said he enjoyed being a leader but wasn’t driven by an official position and that the club would go through its usual leadership process over summer.
“We’ll wait until next year and see how we want to roll going forward as a footy club, whether that is still going down the path of co-captains or just a singular captain, we’ll cross that path when the time comes,’’ Sloane, 29, told Triple M.
Asked whether he wanted to be sole captain, Sloane said: “I’ve loved this footy club since the day I got here and I’ve always said that regardless of title I will always help lead this club the best way I can.
“I will always drive standards and seek the best for this footy club, the title of captain has never driven me and never will.
“What always has driven me is a desire to be the best version of myself and subsequently get the best version of this footy club out there, which this year we have probably struggled with.’’
Sloane said Walker spoke to him on Tuesday about his decision.
“He said he had been thinking about it for a while, so I thanked him for what he’s done because he's led us through some tough times and done an outstanding job,’’ he said.
Walker, who was Adelaide’s leading goalkicker this year with 43, led his team on to the MCG for the 2017 grand final against Richmond but had a game to forget in the eight-goal defeat.
He described leading the Crows as a “great privilege'’ but believed the time was right to take a step back.
“It has been a great privilege to lead this club for the last five years, through some great times and some very sad and challenging times,” Walker told the club’s website.
“It has made me realise what’s really important in my life — family, mateship and making the most of the time we have in the game we all love.
“The role has helped me grow, mature, learn and seek to understand others’ views but most of all I’ve enjoyed the challenge of leading this club.”
Coach Don Pyke said he respected Walker’s reasons for stepping down, adding the forward should take great pride in the way he had led the club.
“From the day I arrived, Taylor has been a great leader who has helped and inspired his teammates, coaches and staff,” Pyke said.
“He has also been a tremendous support to me as senior coach and not only shown genuine care for all of those inside the club, but also the wider community with some of his charity work.
“He will continue to offer advice and play a key role in developing our next generation of leaders and I look forward to seeing what more he can achieve on-field.”
Crows chairman Rob Chapman said Walker should be held in the highest regard for leading the club during some of its most trying times.
TAYLOR WALKER’S CAPTAINCY:
* Appointed by Phil Walsh in 2014 for the 2015 season
* Captained for 105 games from 2015-2019
* Finishes captaincy with the second-most games by a Crows captain behind Mark Ricciuto (142) and ahead of Mark Bickley (102)
* Led Crows into 2017 grand final
* Kicked 229 goals as captain
* Highest goals kicked in a game is seven (Round 21, 2015, v Brisbane)
* 2019’s Crows leading goal-kicker (43)
* Win-draw-loss record as captain: 63-1-41
* Twice voted AFL Players’ Association best captain (2016, 2017)
* Awarded club life membership in 2017