Star Crow Rory Sloane in hospital for appendix surgery
UPDATE: Star Crows player Rory Sloane is resting in hospital after emergency appendix surgery on the eve of finals — just weeks after fellow superstar Eddie Betts had the same problem.
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CROWS vice-captain Rory Sloane is in hospital, resting after appendix surgery on Tuesday.
The All-Australian midfielder’s part in next Thursday’s opening to the AFL finals is in doubt.
Sloane was absent from Adelaide’s training at West Lakes on Tuesday morning — when he was to front the media in a club press conference — after he reported abdominal pain.
Medical tests revealed the urgent need to remove his appendix. The Crows have not detailed if the appendix was ruptured, a condition that would delay his return to training and playing.
Adelaide says it remains “hopeful” of 27-year-old Sloane playing in the home qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Thursday week.
The AFL’s bye weekend between the close of the home-and-away round and the start of the final works to Sloane’s advantage. There is a nine-day gap to the double-chance final against the Giants.
Sloane’s setback repeats Crows specialist forward Eddie Betts needing urgent appendix surgery on Sunday, July 23.
He missed the away clash with Collingwood at the MCG seven days later and resumed in the Showdown against Port Adelaide a fortnight later, describing the pain as the worst he had ever experienced.
Sloane’s surgery is a dramatic turnaround to Adelaide starting the week with positive news on captain and key forward Taylor Walker (toe-ankle) and key defender Daniel Talia (ankle and groin) resuming training to be certain of their parts in the qualifying final.
Sloane has a vital role — as a strong, inside midfielder — to deal with keeping the ball moving from stoppages to the faster and damaging Giants midfielders. His vast experience across nine AFL seasons — and seven AFL finals — also is vital in guiding the younger Adelaide midfielders, Matt and Brad Crouch and Hugh Greenwood who was rested from the 29-point loss to West Coast in Perth on Sunday.
Sloane’s seat at Adelaide’s media conference was taken by forward Tom Lynch, who was unaware of his vice-captain’s need for surgery when he spoke at West Lakes on Tuesday morning.
Lynch noted Adelaide was better prepared than in any of its other finals campaigns since last hosting a qualifying final in 2012. This is Adelaide’s third consecutive AFL finals series.
“We’ve evolved as a team; we understand each other more (and) we’ve had some continuity with our football,” Lynch said. “We understand how we play, how (coach) Don (Pyke) wants us to play and we’re more mature and experienced.
“We’ve put ourselves up for a good shot, but the new season starts now — and we need to be ready to go.”
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au