Former Essendon captain Tim Watson has explained how Rory Sloane’s debilitating foot injury could have a negative influence on his contract negotiations.
Sloane is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but has played just four games this year due to a lingering foot niggle. In the Crows’ health report yesterday, they declared the 28-year-old will miss at least the next three-to-four weeks.
According to Watson, Sloane’s absence helps diminish the constant discussion about his future, but it could also lower his value to rival clubs.
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“It’s a good and a bad thing in some ways,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“Obviously if he is not playing, people aren’t asking him the question every day of the week about whether or not he is going to stay at the Adelaide Crows.
“The other part for him is that it’s not a great time to be renegotiating what would be probably the deal of his whole football career.
“Maybe clubs now are just waiting and have second thoughts about whether or not they do.”
Sloane is averaging just 19.8 disposals this season, which is rated below average at his position, and his lowest number since 2010.