We’ve all seen the incredible reaction from Adelaide’s players when Don Pyke delivered the news on Wednesday Rory Sloane had signed a new long-term deal to ensure he would be a Crow for life.

Just over 24 hours later, late in the third quarter of Thursday night’s Round 17 clash with Geelong, the 46,095 fans in attendance at Adelaide Oval were able to give the Crows vice-captain a similarly stunning reaction of their own.

Sloane had attracted cheers from the Adelaide faithful all night, from when he ran out onto Adelaide Oval for the Crows’ first outdoor warm-up just under an hour before the first bounce.

But when the respected vice-captain lined up for goal from 50 metres out with three-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter, the crowd noise around the iconic venue started to swell. 

As the ball sailed straight through between the big sticks, the fans erupted into a cheer which rivalled that heard after the Crows’ Preliminary Final win in 2017.

“It was like he kicked his first goal, wasn’t it?,” Rory Laird said post-game when asked about the feeling on the ground.

“We all got around there. It was just massive for the Club, him re-signing, just shows loyalty to the Club and us players and we just wanted to celebrate with him.

“It was a big goal in the context of the game as well.”


Teammates get around Rory Sloane after his third-quarter goal on Thursday night

There’s little doubt the Crows lift a notch when the Club’s ‘heart and soul player’ is at his competitive best and leading through his actions on the field. 

Adelaide’s pressure on the football was at its peak against Geelong, led by Sloane who finished with 17 contested possessions, eight clearances and seven tackles. 

“There’s a presence and you want to do what he does on the field,” Laird said. 

“He’s a massive contested ball player and leads by example on the field both through his voice and his actions so when he’s out there and playing like that it’s easy to get behind and lift up all the boys.”

Sloane himself was almost lost for words when chatting with Channel 7’s Mark Soderstrom after the win, the crowd cheering just as loud as they were at the start of the night. 

"The fans have been amazing,” Sloane said. 

“The response I've got has been pretty overwhelming.”