Jarman says Sloane should be captain, Danger gone
Crows legend Darren Jarman believes former club champion Rory Sloane should be captaining the Adelaide Football Club in 2015, instead of fledgling skipper Taylor Walker.
And the dual premiership hero and one-time assistant coach is in no doubt that midfield gun Patrick Dangerfield will walk out on the club at season’s end.
InDaily has been told Jarman made the controversial comments at a NAB-hosted function held at the Norwood RSL on Saturday ahead of Port Adelaide’s clash with West Coast at adjacent Norwood Oval.
The bank sponsors the AFL’s ‘NAB Challenge’ pre-season competition.
The immaculately-skilled Jarman built his career in the midfield before cementing his reputation as a forward in his twilight years, leading Adelaide’s goalkicking in 1998, ’99 and ’01 and practically winning the 1997 Grand Final off his own boot in the final term.
But it seems he doesn’t see fellow forward Walker as the Crows’ first-choice captain, telling the invited audience of about 50 (mostly NAB customers) he would have preferred to see Sloane at the helm.
Walker’s appointment has already aroused plenty of debate, with even the affable skipper revealing his initial reaction was to turn down the opportunity. He was elevated ahead of a broad field of prospective appointments, including outgoing captain Nathan Van Berlo and 2014 acting co-captains Dangerfield and Sloane.
InDaily did not attend the function, but has verified the account of a guest, who said Jarman made his own view of the captaincy clear, before suggesting Dangerfield was not in contention as it was widely understood he would return to Victoria at season’s end, with perennial finalist Geelong his likely suitor.
He did, however, follow his observations with a positive appraisal of Walker’s leadership attributes.
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Jarman was a guest on a panel chaired by Channel 9 sportscaster Tom Rehn, consisting of fellow ex-Crow Rhett Biglands and former West Coast chairman of selectors Tim Gepp, now an opposition analyst for the Eagles.
Jarman retired in 2001 after 230 games with Hawthorn and Adelaide, serving as an assistant coach for two years from 2002.
He retains strong ties with the Crows, who are courting his son Ben as a potential father-son recruit.
InDaily approached the club for comment, but it would not be drawn on the matter.
