Footy, family, friends and surfing – that’s a snapshot of what Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane enjoys most in life and the four are represented in a unique piece of football memorabilia which is being auctioned to support a cause important to the football community.

Sloane is one of 11 AFL and AFLW players supporting ‘The Art of Football’ exhibition – a display of hand-painted, one-off artworks on footballs – and fans can bid to purchase his specially-designed football here.

The footballs are being exhibited in Melbourne during July and auctioned to raise funds for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, the not-for-profit organisation created by St Kilda player Nick Riewoldt and his family to fund research to find a cure for Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome, which claimed the life of Nick’s young sister Maddie in 2015.

Sloane’s football has been designed and painted by local artist Luke Day and includes a dynamic, alternative design to the traditional Adelaide Crows symbol.

The black and white artwork is a minimalistic rendering of the hard work it has taken Sloane to get to where he is. It includes representation of the biggest influences in his life – footy, family, friends and surfing.

Other players taking part in the exhibition include Nick Riewoldt, Jack Riewoldt, Luke Hodge, Patrick Dangerfield, Nathan Jones, Oliver Wines, Moana Hope. Darcy Vescio, Brendon Goddard and Zachary William.

The football is accompanied by a signed flyer from both Sloane and Luke Day and is presented in a perspex box.

The auction is being supported by the Crows Children’s Foundation and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Maddie’s Vision.

This Saturday, July 8 will mark the second official “Maddie’s Match” between St Kilda and Richmond. Maddie’s Match also aims to raise funds for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision. 

For more information click here.

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