FLICKING back through Rory Sloane's draft combine and club questionnaires, it would be safe to assume he was a fan of action movies and comic books growing up.

In a pre-draft questionnaire three years ago, while most players listed skills such as speed, agility or kicking on their non-preferred foot, Sloane tongue-in-cheek responded 'Kryptonite' when was asked to identify his weakness.

The fun-loving 21-year-old doesn't remember providing the Kryptonite line, but his subsequent attempt at humour in a quiz before the start of this season leaves you with little doubt he said it.

When challenged to reveal something not many people knew about him for an Adelaide player profile, he wrote: 'I am Batman'.

It didn't take long for revelations of his alleged superhero status to spread, with teammates, supporters and commentators alike now commonly referring to him as Rory 'The Batman' Sloane.

"That's gotten so blown out of proportion," Sloane said with a grin.

"I'm copping a lot of grief at the club because the boys are saying I gave myself the nickname, 'Batman'.

"I wrote 'I am Batman' as a joke in a questionnaire, but it seems to have been taken a bit further now."

Sloane didn't dodge the pre-draft question about his weaknesses because he was in denial over his ability.
He admits he has areas to improve on. Who doesn't?

But he figures he will let his opponents work those out.
One of the knocks on his game as a teenager playing for the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup was his kicking.

It wasn't deemed a major deficiency, but the question mark was big enough to see him overlooked completely at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, and slide all the way down to pick 44 the next year.

The Crows seriously considered selecting Sloane as a 17-year-old in 2008 but instead took a punt on raw defender Aaron Kite, who was delisted after two seasons at the club.

"We probably should've picked Rory with our last pick in 2007 (No. 71), but we didn't. Thankfully, he was still there the next year," Adelaide recruiting manager Matt Rendell said.

"I thought he had too many things going for him in other areas to worry about his kicking that much. I just love the way he played.

"He's an influential player. He doesn't need to have many touches to have an impact on a game and he plays tough footy."

Sloane's influence and toughness were both highlighted in his performance against Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium in round one this season.

The inexperienced on-baller was credited with keeping Adelaide in the contest in the first half and was also important after half-time, helping the Crows fight back from four goals down to record a memorable win in a match celebrating the 20th anniversary of the club's AFL debut.

His performance against the Hawks was heralded even more when X-rays the next day revealed he had finished the game with a fractured jaw and thumb.

"My jaw and thumb were both pretty sore during the game," Sloane said.

"I remember saying to the doc, 'My jaw is pretty sore', after Graham Johncock accidentally cleaned me up with his hip. The doctor had a fiddle around with my teeth and said they were fine. He didn't think there was anything wrong.

"I knew my thumb was pretty bad though, because I tried to take a mark and the ball just went straight through my hands.

"I remember thinking, that can't be good."

Sloane put on a brave face for the more than 70 friends and family he had invited to Adelaide from his home in Upwey in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne's outer east to help celebrate his 21st birthday at a party the night after the game.

The next day, he checked into hospital to have a metal plate put in his jaw and pins inserted to realign his thumb.

It was the third straight year he had been injured in round one, having damaged ligaments in his ankle against Fremantle last season and injuring his knee playing for North Adelaide in the SANFL the year before.

He spent five weeks recovering from the two surgeries, including a painful first week drinking "baby food" and soup through a straw under the watchful eye of his mum at home in Upwey.

But he maintains he would do it all again.

"The win was definitely worth it," he said grinning.

"I think I got through the game on pure adrenaline. I didn't have any painkillers. There was a massive crowd there. It was a huge game for the club and it was a close game as well."

Sloane is already developing a reputation for his ability to perform in big games, or at pivotal moments in matches.

In just his 10th game, against Geelong at AAMI Stadium in round 16 last season, Sloane coolly slotted two goals late in the game, belying his experience and guiding Adelaide to an upset win over the reigning premier.

He revealed his appetite for the big stage again in the Crows' clash with the Sydney Swans two weeks ago, marking the ball just inside 50m in slippery conditions late in the tight final quarter.

Sometimes, at crucial moments in games, it appears the player with the ball in his hands doesn't want the responsibility of taking the kick, but Sloane calmly walked back to his mark and - just as he had done against the Cats 12 months before - nailed the goal that ultimatelydelivered a much-needed victory for his team.

The kicking, which supposedly led to him being overlooked in the 2007 draft, has already won Adelaide two games.
"Against Sydney, we'd lost six games in a row, 'Craigy' (coach Neil Craig) was under the pump, the players had been under the pump and our supporters were frustrated with us," he said.

"I thought, 'There's no way I can miss this. We need it too much as a footy club for me to miss'.

"The feeling you get after kicking those sorts of goals is just amazing.

"I can't even remember the ball going through. I just remember hitting it well and then celebrating afterwards with all the boys."

Photographers at the ground captured Sloane's goal celebration with teammate and housemate Jared Petrenko, who played his best game for the club in the win over the Swans.

"'Pup' (Petrenko) jumped up in front of me and wrapped his legs around me," Sloane said.

"There are a couple of good photos of it actually. We might have to get one blown up and put up in the house."

There's a bit of Superman and Clark Kent in the 'double life' Sloane leads.

The loveable clubman is as laidback and friendly off the field as he is fierce and competitive on it.

His severe case of white-line fever is best summed up in a story told by his former Vic-Metro coach David Dickson.

"Against Tassie in the second game of the (Under-18) championships (in 2008), when we got belted around a bit, Rory really made the other players feel better about themselves," Dickson said.

"He worked his player over so much in that game that he wouldn't shake Rory's hand at the end of the game, but Rory wouldn't let him get off the ground until he shook his hand."

Rendell also has fond memories of Sloane dating back to his first meeting with the then 17-year-old in 2007.

"When Rory came in for the first interview, it was like he'd known us all for 20 years. He was everyone's mate," Rendell said.

"He's just a bubbly personality. I knew he'd fit in at our club. He'd fit in anywhere.

"He's turned out exactly like I thought he would and he's got a fair bit of improvement still to come, I think."

Sloane the superhero? No, sadly not. But Sloane the cult hero? Definitely.

As Adelaide undergoes a major overhaul of its list, Craig has encouraged supporters to find new heroes to replace long-time favourites Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton.

Sloane, who took over Edwards' No. 9 jumper, has joined Patrick Dangerfield (dubbed the new Mark Ricciuto) at the top of the most popular list, endearing himself to the Crows faithful with his energy, enthusiasm and mop of blond hair.

He has also become an instant favourite of the coach, who has expressed admiration for the competitive midfielder's uncompromising style of play on numerous occasions.

In the same questionnaire that he became 'The Batman', Sloane was overwhelmingly nominated as the 'coach's pet', prompting larrikin forward Taylor Walker to stick a photo of Sloane surrounded by love hearts in Craig's locker as a practical joke.

"I knew it was Taylor. He kept denying it, but I knew it was him," Sloane said when asked about the prank.

"'Craigy' brought it up in a meeting and said, 'Sloaney, stop putting photos of yourself up in my locker'.

"The other boys think I'm Craigy's pet … I don't really know why."

Rory Sloane
Born: March 17, 1990
Recruited from: Upwey-Tecoma/Eastern U18
Debut: Round 20, 2009 v Hawthorn
Height: 183cm  Weight: 79kg
Games: 25  Goals: 15
Draft history: 2008 NAB AFL Draft 3rd round selection (Adelaide) No. 44 overall

This story first appeared in the AFL Record

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs