AFL 2020: Rory Sloane’s tribute on anniversary of son Leo’s death in Adelaide vs Geelong

Adelaide star Rory Sloane has delivered an emotional tribute as he and partner Belinda acknowledged a heartbreaking anniversary.

Adelaide star Rory Sloane's emotional tribute.

Crows star Rory Sloane has produced an emotional tribute to his son Leo as he and partner Belinda acknowledged the heartbreaking anniversary of his death.

Sloane and wife Belinda two years ago suffered “the most emotional moment” of their lives when she gave birth to “perfect” stillborn son Leo.

Sloane showed his class in the middle of Adelaide’s battle with Geelong when he took a brief moment to honour Leo’s legacy.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Sloane kicked a monster goal from outside the 50m arc at the start of the second quarter before kissing a message written on his wrist and pointing to the sky as teammates gathered around him.

Adelaide star Rory Sloane's emotional tribute.

An emotional Sloane will on Monday endure the pain of the two-year anniversary of Leo’s death.

While the amazing couple have since welcomed one-year-old son Sonny into the world — the scar of Leo’s death will never fully heal.

"It's gonna take his best."

Mission accomplished from @rorysloane9 🚀#AFLCrowsCats pic.twitter.com/HRJODLUzVY

— AFL (@AFL) August 23, 2020

The couple will celebrate Sonny’s first birthday next month. They last year took to Twitter to share their baby joy in September.

Sloane wrote: “Welcome to this world my little man”.

“Sonny Leo Sloane. Welcome to the world,” Belinda wrote on Instagram.

AFL live scores: Round 13 Match Centre

Sonny’s middle name is a touching tribute to the pair’s baby son Leo who was stillborn 34 weeks into the pregnancy on August 24, 2018.

He weighed just over 2.5kg and was 50cm long.

The couple earlier spoke about the bittersweet heartbreak of losing a child in such tragic circumstances in 2018.

The loss devastated the couple who helped launch a nationwide stillbirth research campaign the Lion Warrior program with Red Nose.

In launching Lion Warrior, Belinda wrote on her Instagram account: “Over the past year we have learnt so many valuable lessons from our gorgeous Leo. He continues to shape the people we are today.

“Our hope is that by sharing his story with the world, we can raise awareness and funds to reduce stillbirth rates within Australia. This is our little Lion Warrior, this is Leo.”

Rory Sloane of the Crows kisses goodbye his son Sonny watched by his wife Bel.

Rory Sloane said at the time: “I remember him just passing Leo straight into Belinda ‘s arms and again, probably the most emotional we’ve ever been, I think, at that period.

“I remember looking across and Belinda holding her little son in her arms and him obviously being lifeless, but seeing the — it’s so hard to explain — but the joy on Belinda’s face, also matched with the sorrow, it was heartbreaking.”

Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson said Sunday’s game against Geelong was clearly “an emotional one” for the Sloane family.

“That was after a magnificent goal in honour of his stillborn son Leo almost two years ago,” Hudson said.

“An emotional one for the Sloane family.”