Adelaide Crows make shock captaincy announcement for 2023

The Adelaide Crows have called upon a young star to take over the reigns after their former skipper stood down from the role.

Dawson takes over. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Adelaide Crows have appointed a new man in charge after Rory Sloane stood down as the skipper.

Sloane led from the front for four seasons, but opted to step aside ahead of the 2023 season getting underway.

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Taking Sloane’s place, in somewhat of a shock, is Jordan Dawson who will be playing only his second season at the Crows.

Dawson, 25, joined the team ahead of the 2022 season after requesting a trade home from the Sydney Swans at the end of 2021.

He was added to the Crows leadership group in the middle of last season, but has now been handed the top job.

After playing only 22 games, Dawson’s leadership shone through as he made a major impression on coach Matthew Nicks.

“I could not be more excited to captain the club I barracked for growing up as a kid,” Dawson said in a club statement.

“It was surreal to pull on the guernsey last year, and now this is a huge honour.

“Everyone at this club wants to win and have success and do it as quickly as we can, so I’m honoured to have the responsibility of driving that.

“It’s an incredible privilege and even better having the likes of Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker – both highly respected captains of the club – and our leadership group here to help me on this journey.”

I’m the captain now. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sloane said the time was right to give up the reigns and hand them over to a younger star of the club.

“The time is right because we have somebody who has stepped up and is ready to lead,” Sloane said.

“We have been talking about this for five to six months, and I could 100 per cent keep going as captain, but there is someone else who is ready to take the club forward.

“It has been an honour to lead this club for the past four seasons, but once a captain always a captain, and there are blokes like ‘Tex’ and myself and the rest of the leadership group there to help ‘Daws’ going forward.”

A new leader...#weflyasone

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) February 10, 2023

The Crows have failed to play finals footy since making it all the way to the Grand Final back in 2017.

They were embroiled in controversy in the years to follow thanks to a pre-season camp, but will look to climb the ladder under their new skipper.

Dawson takes over. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Nicks was quick to praise Sloane for everything he’d given the club during his time as the captain.

“Rory has been a ‘follow me’ captain who puts his head in the hole on game day and has never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself,” Nicks said.

“He has led our club brilliantly through some very challenging times and never let us down.

“But now is the right time to pass the baton to our next captain … Jordan is ready because in key moments he steps up and delivers, particularly on-field.

“We identified him as having leadership qualities when we recruited him from Sydney and they have shone through in the past 18 months with us.”