AFL Fixture 2022: Every game, full analysis of Adelaide Crows draw and captain named
The Adelaide Crows will persist with a proven formula at the helm as they back in again the player they believe is ideal for its young and developing list.
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Rory Sloane is continuing as Adelaide’s captain.
The Crows announced on Friday morning that Sloane would remain skipper for a fourth season, informing players and coaches before training.
Sloane, 31, was co-captain with Taylor Walker in 2019 then took on the role solo last year.
Crows head of football Adam Kelly said Sloane, the most experienced player at the club with 229 games, was the ideal person to lead the squad.
Adelaide will wait until early next year to decide the rest of the leadership group.
“Rory has done an outstanding job not only in the past three years as captain but as a leader throughout his 13 years at the club,” Kelly said.
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“We have a young and developing list and Rory is a great role model and mentor for many of those young players, as well as driving standards and encouraging our more experienced guys.
“He is highly respected by players, coaches and staff alike and his popularity among members and supporters for the way he goes about his football and as a one-club player is obvious.”
“We congratulate Rory for remaining captain in 2022 and will go through a thorough process to determine who will work with him in the leadership group in the new year.”
Sloane, who played 18 of Adelaide’s 22 games last season, said he loved the club and was excited about the future at West Lakes.
“It is a privilege to lead the playing group,” said Sloane, a dual best and fairest winner.
“But it’s not just one person, we have so many young leaders at our footy club — not just within the leadership group — and that’s what excites me.
“The standards at training show me the team is committed to building on the development we have made in the past two years in particular.”
Adelaide’s leadership group for the past two campaign has been Sloane, Tom Doedee, off-season departure Tom Lynch, Brodie Smith and Matt Crouch.
Doedee has usually captained the Crows in Sloane’s absence.
Crows land dream draw, showpiece games
Adelaide has received a dream draw in the 2022 AFL fixture.
The Crows home Showdown being on a Friday night in Round 3, although it is up against Melbourne v Essendon at the MCG, is the headline act of Adelaide’s 2022 schedule.
But when Crows fans have a look at the full fixture for their side in 2022, they would have to be thrilled.
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The two Showdowns against fierce rivals Port Adelaide, the second coming in Round 23, is the only time the Crows take on a side that finished in the top eight in 2021 twice.
And out of all of Adelaide’s double-up clashes, which also include North Melbourne (Round 15 in Hobart and Round 22 at Adelaide Oval), West Coast (Round 12 at home and Round 21 away), Carlton (Round 8 at Marvel Stadium and Round 20 at home) and Collingwood (Round 2 at the MCG and Round 18 at home), only Port Adelaide is considered a certain finalist.
The Crows also don’t have to take on Hawthorn at the Hawks’ University of Tasmania Stadium fortress in Launceston.
Instead, Matthew Nicks’ side only has to travel to Marvel Stadium for the Round 17 clash with the Hawks.
There are trips to Ballarat to take on the Western Bulldogs for a Saturday lunchtime clash in Round 6 and to Geelong to take on the Cats in Round 11.
And the Crows have away trips to face 2021 top-eight teams in Essendon - a Sunday lunchtime game at Marvel Stadium in Round 4 - and Sydney in Round 19.
But, overall, the Crows should be extremely pleased with their 2022 fixtures right now.
Of course there are going to be the Sunday games that don’t get the big crowds, with three so far in the matches that have been locked in.
But that is to be expected for a side that has won 10 games over the past two seasons.
A Friday night Showdown, and games against big Victorian clubs at Adelaide Oval, were what the Crows asked the AFL of in their fixture requests.
And while the Showdown isn’t a stand-alone match on April 1, the Crows can market it as history in the making and it gives them a chance to be in the prime time slot.
They also get to take on Brisbane at Adelaide Oval in a Saturday night slot in Round 9.
As for the big Victorian clubs the Crows get to host Richmond - Round 5 in a Saturday twilight timeslot - reigning premiers Melbourne in Round 16, Collingwood in Round 18 and Carlton in Round 20.
The Crows open the season with two games that they should feel bullish about their chances, Fremantle on a Sunday in Round 1 following the Pies on a Saturday lunchtime match at the MCG.
And home games against GWS in Round 7 and St Kilda in Round 10 give the Crows a good chance of causing an upset after they shocked both Geelong and Melbourne at Adelaide Oval in 2021.
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Originally published as AFL Fixture 2022: Every game, full analysis of Adelaide Crows draw and captain named
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