Sloane happy to do it for Edwards

EMERGING midfielder Rory Sloane might have only played four games in the Adelaide colours, but says he felt compelled to win Saturday’s game against Fremantle for retiring champion Tyson Edwards.

Sloane, 20, came into the Crows side at the expense of Edwards last weekend and held his spot for the veteran’s farewell game.

The tough ball winner started slowly, gathering just six possessions in the first half but excelled in the second half to finish with 20 disposals [nine contested], six inside 50s and two score assists.

Coach Neil Craig didn’t use Edwards’ retirement as motivation leading into or during the game but the parochial home crowd was a vocal reminder of the occasion, with the 35,000 fans cheering every time Edwards touched the ball and rising to their feet when he nailed a goal in the second quarter.

The Crows played two men down after losing injured pair Andrew McLeod and Phil Davis before half time and Sloane said there was no doubt the emotion of the day had helped his side get over the line.

“I certainly felt [it]. You want to win for someone like Tyson in his last game. He is a legend and for me to play in a game like that in my second year of footy was amazing. It was just an unbelievable feeling out there,” he said.

“Tyson has been a massive role model for me with the way he acts around the club. He’s such a relaxed character and such a good bloke to be around, but once it comes to footy he means business and he showed that today.

“In his last game he comes out and puts in a phenomenal performance. He’s going to leave a great impression on the young blokes at this club especially.”

Edwards is likely to hand his famous No.9 guernsey down to a young player at West Lakes and has already identified Sloane as a possible candidate.

The promising second-year player said he hadn’t requested Edwards’ number, but that he’d be thrilled to have it.

“I took 31 because it was available, but it doesn’t hold any real significance for me. If Tyson wanted to give me his number I’d be glad to have it, but he hasn’t mentioned it,” Sloane said.

Sloane’s performance comfortably eclipsed his previous eight-disposal best and the Victorian said he was happy with his return.

“My second half was much better. I tried to be cleaner because I fumbled a bit in the second half, but it was great to get a good second half under my belt,” he said.

“It was only my second game back and it started to hurt a bit towards the end of the last quarter, but overall I felt good. My fitness is getting back to where it was before I hurt my ankle earlier in the year and I’ll keep building on that.”