Nathan Buckley has revealed he tried to recruit recently retired Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane to Collingwood during his time in charge of the club.
Sloane announced his AFL retirement on Monday and cited the decision was made in the best interests of his long-term health given issues with a detached retina.
The 255-gamer retired a one-club player and one of the greatest ever Crows to do it.
Buckley, who coached Collingwood from 2012 until mid-2021, revealed that if he had his way, Sloane would have worn the black and white in the twilight of his career.
“I’ve admired him from afar… I’ve met him a few times, there’s certain players you see when they take the field and how they carry themselves, their selflessness to their teammates, their commitment to the team, it was absolutely unconditional,” Buckley said to Sloane’s retirement on SEN’s Whateley.
“He was a player that when we would have our list management meetings, it would nearly always be, ‘Rory Sloane, any chance?’ He was a player I would have loved to play with or coach.
“I asked the question of our (list management) boys every year and when (former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson) came across after coaching at Adelaide I said, ‘what do you reckon, let’s work away and see if we can prise him out’.”
Sloane was drafted out of Victoria with pick 44 in the 2008 National Draft and went on to win two best and fairests, an All-Australian blazer and was also named the AFLPA’s most courageous player in 2017.
Sanderson was sacked by the Crows in late 2014 and came to the Pies under Buckley in 2016. Sloane signed a three-year deal to stay at Adelaide in 2015 but his future remained a constant source of speculation in the final year of that deal.
The Magpies were reported to be leading the race for his signature, but he turned his back on rival interest to sign a five-year deal with Adelaide and ensure he would remain a Crow for life.
“He was committed, he was loyal, I loved the way he went about his footy,” Buckley continued.
“He was a man’s man, off the field he seemed to be so balanced, so sure of himself and I know that this isn’t always the case when you see the perception of someone, but I admired the way he carried himself.”
Sloane retires at 34 years of age and played the 10th most games for the Adelaide Football Club.
He underwent surgery on his eye in the pre-season and in his retirement statement, said the risk was simply too great to continue.
"I have given it my all to get back to playing and generally speaking my body is in great shape and I’m mentally fresh but ultimately, the risk of another eye injury is too great,” Sloane said.
“More so the impact it could have on my life and the potential for loss of vision. I’ve come to realise this is definitely not like the more common injuries you can get from playing the game.
“Our footy club is a special place and I have absolutely loved every minute of my career, and along the way I have grown and experienced so much as a person and footballer.
“So many of my important life moments, including getting married and having children, have been intertwined with my Crows journey, as well as the opportunity to make lifelong friends and ride the ups and downs of their lives too.”