SEN news breaker Sam McClure says he holds “grave concerns” for Rory Sloane’s chances of earning a new contract, whether it be at Adelaide or potentially another club.
Sloane is out of contract at the end of this season and hasn’t played since Round 4 due to a persistent Lisfranc injury in his right foot, however, the Crows have indicated he will be back after their bye.
McClure believes the midfielder is running out of time to prove his fitness, and that players who have previously suffered from the Lisfranc ailment have struggled to return to full health in a short time frame.
“I’ve got grave concerns for Rory Sloane – not for the player that is now – but for the player that he could be in the future,” he told SEN’s Time On.
“He, along with Tom Lynch, is the hottest property in the free agency market. Both of those players have been injured of late, with Lynch only returning last week.
“The difference is that Lynch is 25, is in the prime of his career and is also a key forward. Sloane, who’s a midfield bull, at the start of next season will be 29.
“Thereby in Round 14? That means that Round 15 would be his potential earliest return, according to the coach. That gives Rory Sloane eight weeks, if they don’t play finals.
“This is not just for Adelaide, but for any other potential suitors, with St Kilda the club that he grew up loving and supporting at the top of that list, who I believe have the ability to give Rory Sloane a five-year offer.
“But that’s pending on a lot of things – and the first thing is him getting back to full fitness.
“The Lisfranc injury that Rory Sloane has, has an ominous record when it comes to time spent out of the game.
“Ryan Lester injured it in Round 3 of 2012 – he missed the rest of the season. Richmond great Matthew Richardson injured his in Round 4 of 2000 – he missed the rest of the season. Rhys Stanley in 2015 injured his at the halfway mark in Round 11 – he also missed the rest of the season.
“Jarrod Pickett missed six months, Reece Conca missed five months, Daniel Wells missed 16 weeks, Harry Cunningham missed 14 weeks and it ended the careers of Dane Swan and Ricky Petterd.
"At he’s best he is one of the best midfielders in the competition, we know that, but it’s a bad time to be out of contract, and a bad time to have a Lisfranc injury."
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Two-time Adelaide premiership captain Mark Bickley believes Sloane’s situation works in the Crows' favour as it could deter potential suitors.
“He’s been training for the last three-four weeks and there’s talk he will come back after the bye,” Bickley said.
"If he plays serviceable footy, and it’s going to be difficult, he’s had a long lay-off and it’s going to take a couple of weeks to get into the swing of things.
"I don’t think anyone’s expecting him to be in All-Australian form straight off the bat, so you would have to say there would be some doubt of potential recruiters at looking at making a huge investment for a bloke who’s approaching the twilight of his career.”
Listen to tonight's edition of Time On with Sam McClure in the player below