Crows veteran Rory Sloane has suffered a second injury setback this summer, aggregating the same hamstring that kept him sidelined ahead of the Christmas break.
While the 33-year-old was able to perform light duties as Adelaide returned to the training track on Monday, 7 News Adelaide reported that Sloane would likely remain outside the main group for "a week or so".
In what is set to be his final year of footy, 7NEWS can reveal there has been another setback for former Adelaide skipper Rory Sloane. Sloane was supposed to be back into the swing of things, but the veteran was again on light duties. 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. @joshmoney__ #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/4VR3fRmhc5
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 8, 2024
Sloane enters 2024 without a deal beyond the end of the season. And with Matthew Nicks poised to run South Australian bull Luke Pedlar through the middle at a greater rate, Slone's 16th season in tri-colours could well be his last.
After an ACL tear kept the Victorian ball-winner to just four AFL appearances in 2022, Sloane bounced back with aplomb, featuring on 22 occasions last season, often ahead of the ball.
After penning his one-year extension last August, the former skipper stated that the main driver of him remaining at West Lakes was to help the next generation take the baton and run.
“My goal now is to keep helping this group grow, I've got myself back in a physical state where I can do that again and am excited to keep helping the group for another season," Sloane told Crows Media.
Sloane now joins Riley Thilthorpe (soreness), Reilly O'Brien (appendix surgery), Chris Burgess (eye) and skipper Jordan Dawson (honeymoon) outside of Nicks' main group.
Adelaide is set to commence its 2024 campaign when it travels to face Gold Coast at Carrara on Saturday, March 16.
