Sloane reunites with Dangerfield for pay deal push
Adelaide midfield mainstay Rory Sloane has been reunited with former teammate Patrick Dangerfield – in an off-field role.
Sloane was last night unveiled as the newest member of the AFL Players’ Association board, replacing departing former Hawk Brad Sewell.
Sloane’s election to the 10-man board – alongside president and former Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich and the likes of Dangerfield and his Cats teammate Jimmy Bartel – marks him out as an emerging league leader, despite being overlooked for the Crows captaincy last year.
The appointment also precedes a pivotal collective bargaining negotiation – to be finalised by the end of June – set to give AFL players a payday bonanza to reflect the league’s new broadcast deal, which will see $2.508 billion injected into the code over six years from 2017.
In a statement, Sloane said he had “developed a very strong interest in players’ rights and what can be done to achieve the best possible outcomes for players, so I’m looking forward to providing some strong representation and direction from South Australia”.
“I’m at a really important stage of not only my career, but a lot of other guys my age [who] have got a huge CBA coming up and to be able to help influence where that will go will be able to help set up guys my age – and older and younger – [and] really help set up their future.”
In a video interview broadcast at last night’s AFLPA season launch, Sloane said representing players’ interests was “something I’ve definitely taken a lot more interest in over the years”.
“Part of it’s being a bit of voice and ears for all of South Australia,” he said.
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“I’ve got some good relationships with guys at Port Adelaide as well [and] obviously I’ll be listening to the guys at our footy club and providing feedback from them to the other board members and delegates.”
AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh said Sloane’s appointment provided “an important and respected voice in SA”.
“He’s a very popular member of the playing group and I’m confident that he will bring great value to the board and the Players’ Association,” he said.
Sewell stepped down from the board after five years to focus on his new venture at The Australian Rules Football College. He also has a new role as the Strategic Partnerships Manager at the AFL Players’ official charity partner Ladder, which addresses youth homelessness.
