The Adelaide Crows have announced their leadership group for the 2021 season, with Rory Sloane given the nod to captain the club for a third consecutive year.

The Crows have retained the same five-man leadership group as last year, with Tom Doedee, Tom Lynch, Brodie Smith and Matt Crouch rounding it out.

Sloane, 29, was unanimously voted into the role again by his teammates, with every player consulted by the club's leadership development manager Dan Jackson.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks endorsed the decision for Sloane to lead the club again in 2021.

“Rory typifies what we are about – selflessness, team-first, he is ruthlessly competitive and all about performing at the highest level and making others around him better,” Nicks said in a statement on afc.com.au.

“He has been a fantastic captain for us the past two years and we are excited about him continuing in the role this season.

“The fact that there have been no changes to the leadership group for 2021 reinforces our belief that the five players did an outstanding job in what was a very challenging year in 2020 and as we enter a period of growth and stability it’s important they continue the work they started.

“The ability however for players to have an influence on the team and environment is not limited to those who are in the leadership group and throughout the process several other players were identified as emerging leaders and those who represent the standards we strive to achieve.”

The veteran midfielder - who has won two best and fairests and was an All Australian in 2016 - has now played 211 AFL games since making his debut in 2009.

He was restricted to just 12 games in 2020 due to a thumb injury.