Rory Sloane to share Adelaide Crows captaincy with Taylor Walker in 2019

They both had horror years in 2018 but Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane are confident it has made them stronger as they share the captaincy of the Crows this season.

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Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane could not have endured more challenging years than in 2018. Now they are joined as co-captains of the Crows.

Both struggled with injuries last season; Sloane with foot injuries, Walker with foot and hamstring complaints.

Added to that was the scrutiny the club found itself after a contentious pre-season camp and missing the finals after making the grand final the previous season in an outstanding year.

Yet all of that pales in comparison to what the duo endured off the field.

Both suffered family tragedies with Sloane and wife Belinda’s son Leo being stillborn and Walker and partner Ellie Brown losing their unborn baby.

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As coach Don Pyke announced them as co-captain at West Lakes on Tuesday, Sloane said the testing times had brought not only him and Walker closer, but the whole group of players.

“We’ve always been pretty close,” Sloane said. “But we’ve had a few experiences over the last few years that have certainly strengthened this whole group.

“Not just us two.

“But yes, absolutely.”

Walker, too, said it had been a testing year.

But he also said there were things to learn from a disappointing season and hoped it would strengthen the Crows’ mettle ahead of 2019.

“I think it was a challenging year; we learnt so much,” Walker said. “We’re forever learning.”

The Crows co-captains and good mates Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane at West Lakes on Tuesday Picture Dean Martin

Pyke said the co-captaincy made sense given the growing demands of the role and the leadership capabilities of the players.

They are both 28.

“It was something I had been contemplating: ‘what was going to be the best leadership structure for the season coming up?’” Pyke said on Tuesday.

“We’re fortunate to have two quality players like we’ve got, two quality men, who have committed their lives to the footy club and are as passionate about the club as any two.

“For me, it just made sense.

“Tex has done a fantastic job for us and he remains the captain. I think it’s an opportunity for Rory, who has grown in that space, to step up and join forces with him.

“The power of the two is stronger than the power of one.”

Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane will share the Crows captaincy in 2019. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The announcement came ahead of the Adelaide Crows’ Fan Fair 2019 season launch at the Adelaide Showground on Tuesday afternoon.

Two-time Malcolm Blight Medallist Sloane last year signed a five-year contract extension which will keep him at West Lakes until the end of 2023. He has been a long-time vice-captain and was acting captain alongside Patrick Dangerfield as Nathan van Berlo battled an Achilles injury in 2014.

Walker has been Crows’ sole skipper for the past four seasons. In that time he has twice been judged by his peers as the league’s best skipper and led Adelaide to its first grand final in two decades.

Outstanding decision by the Crows. Best of both characters. Great reward for both players. https://t.co/esYVIr8Ell

— Graham Cornes (@Cornesy12) January 22, 2019

If you want your captain/s to be representative of heart & soul at a footy club then Walker & Sloane are perfect. I like Adelaide’s decision.

— Reece Homfray (@reecehomfray) January 22, 2019

This is a great call. Tex still passionate to lead this team and Sloaney was always a skipper in waiting. I wouldn’t be surprised if they spoke about this before the decision and said do this together. Bring on 2019 #WeFlyAsOne https://t.co/nYfVH1mFhZ

— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) January 22, 2019

The star forward, who battled with injuries throughout last year’s campaign, said he considered it a privilege to continue as club leader and that it was a “no-brainer” to install Sloane as his co-captain.

“The development that I’ve seen with Sloaney over the past four or five years has been outstanding,” Walker said.

“It was a no-brainer to me to get Sloaney up to help me. When Pykey and I had spoken about it I was looking forward to taking to Sloaney and we did that. And as you can imagine Sloaney’s the type of guy who was going to do anything to help us have success.”

Taylor Walker celebrates a goal with Rory Sloane. Picture SARAH REED

Sloane, who also had an interrupted 2018 season which included speculation about his future before signing the mega deal, said he was honoured to work with his good mate Walker as an Adelaide captain and join esteemed names such as Mark Bickley, Mark Ricciuto and Simon Goodwin on the club honour board.

And while initially hesitant, he said he was willing to do anything the club believed would help it achieve the ultimate success — win a premiership.

“My first reaction was, ‘is this going to help us be a better team this year and help us achieve what we’re all essentially here for?’

“As I’ve said all along — anything that’s going to help this team get success I’m all up for. Love this footy club, love the people who are in it. I’ve learnt so much from Tex being the skipper for these last few years.

“I’m absolutely chuffed to be co-captain and be able to run out alongside him.

“It’s a massive honour and to do it next to one of your best mates is going to be an even better experience.”

The club said it would finalise its leadership group in the next few weeks.