The Score: AFL clubs awaiting an AFL ruling on the status of out-of-contract Crow Rory Sloane

THE SCORE: AFL clubs sweat on ruling over wanted star, Rocket’s new recruits go missing, Commonwealth Games organisers left red-faced and a silver lining to AFLX.

Rory Sloane tries to call AFL House to find out what type of free agent he is. Picture: Tom Huntley

THE WHISPER

AFL clubs are sweating on a league ruling on the status of out-of-contract Crows star Rory Sloane.

Some changes to the new collective bargaining agreement has created confusion over whether Sloane is regarded as a restricted or unrestricted free agent.

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If it’s the later — which Victorian clubs are praying for — then it makes any poaching attempt a lot easier to execute.

Rodney Eade at a Balwyn training session.

RECRUITS ROCKET OUT OF BALWYN

RODNEY Eade’s return to grassroots footy at Balwyn was universally celebrated by everyone ... except the club’s two marquee recruits.

In an ironic turn of events, two former Gold Coast players — Daniel Gorringe and Henry Schade — had been lured to the Eastern Football League powerhouse late last year.

They’d made a big impact in a short period of time before Christmas, not missing a session.

That was until the shock change of coach saw Rocket replace Marty Pask midway through January.

Since then Gorringe and Schade haven’t been sighted with the kicker ... they were both delisted from the Suns during Rocket’s three-year reign.

Jake Melksham learnt something new on Wednesday. Pic: Getty Images

AFLX’S SILVER LINING

AFLX is promising to be full of surprises.

It’s already fulfilling that charter according to Melbourne’s Jake Melksham who will be part of the Demons squad for the exhibition series.

He was shocked to learn yesterday that he would be kicking around silver Sherrins in AFLX.

“I didn’t even know we were using silver footies — there you go. There’s another new concept that should be fun,” Melksham said.

“I think it’ll be the same size and everything, but it should be fun.”

None of the clubs have seen the silver balls but have been assured they’re the same size, weight and leather as the normal Sherrins.

RED FACES OVER TICKET HOWLER

Oops ... Commonwealth Games organisers had a ticket bungle.

THE schedule has been locked down for well over a year but that still hasn’t prevented the Commonwealth Games from producing an embarrassing ticket blunder.

It’s fair to say the one thing organisers would have had imprinted in their minds was the date and day of the Opening Ceremony.

Since the moment Gold Coast won the bid in 2011 everything has been geared towards that moment which ... they got wrong on 14,000 tickets.

The right date of April 4 is on the tickets but the wrong day of Thursday when it is in fact happening on Wednesday.

Games officials were quick to point the finger at Ticketek saying the blunder had “emanated” from their end.

They’d only become aware of the issue after GOLDOC staff noticed social media chat about the problem.

The tickets won’t be reprinted with Ticketek saying they were still valid and would get punters into the event which we can confirm is on Wednesday April 4.