Sloane the latest Crow to re-sign

Updated June 04, 2012 12:34:47

The good news has continued for the high-flying Adelaide Crows, with Rory Sloane becoming the fourth player re-signing with the club in the last week.

Sloane, who has played 43 games for the Crows after being drafted in 2009, has signed a new three-year contract.

The 22-year-old midfielder was added to Adelaide's leadership group this year.

He has responded to his new responsibilities and has been one of Adelaide's most influential players, averaging 22 disposals, four marks, five tackles, 4 clearances and 4 inside 50s in the opening ten rounds.

In a statement, Crows football operations general manager Phil Harper said Sloane was an important part of the club's plans.

"We have built a really strong group of young players in the past few drafts and Rory has developed into one of the leaders, which is great for our team," Harper said.

"They are a tight and loyal group and have great confidence about the future of the football club."

Adelaide appears to be striking while the iron is hot, securing the services of a core group of midfielders to ensure stability for the next few seasons.

Along with Sloane the Crows have signed midfielders Patrick Dangerfield and Richard Douglas, and young defender Matt Jaensch to new contracts in the past week.

The biggest remaining piece in the puzzle for Adelaide is key forward Kurt Tippett. The Crows reportedly began negotiations with Tippett's management last week, with the aim of securing an agreement by the end of June.

The Crows have made a brilliant start under new coach Brenton Sanderson, winning this year's preseason competition and starting the home and away season 8-2 to sit third on the ladder on percentage behind only West Coast and Essendon.

Last year, Adelaide finished 14th with just seven wins for the year.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted June 04, 2012 12:34:47

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Crowley the latest charged with staging

Updated June 04, 2012 18:04:16

Staging is back on the AFL agenda after a second player was charged with faking illegal contact and another potential case was considered but not brought before the tribunal.

Fremantle's Ryan Crowley was charged with a first offence for staging for throwing his head back after receiving minor contact in the Dockers' game against the Crows on Saturday.

Crowley - whose playing style has already caused controversy this year after Gold Coast's Gary Ablett labelled his tagging job on Chris Judd as "a joke" - will receive a written reprimand from the AFL.

While Crowley was charged, the first man to be formally accused of staging, Essendon's Leroy Jetta, avoided having a second offence against his name.

Jetta was charged two weeks ago, receiving a written reprimand for staging against Richmond in round eight.

In Saturday's loss to Melbourne, Jetta appeared to throw his head back as if struck in a tackle by the Demons' Joel McDonald.

The match review panel did not proceed with a charge, deeming that while Jetta's actions were exaggerated, in the panel's view they were not excessive in nature and that Jetta did not feign illegal contact.

The AFL's staging penalties - a written reprimand for a first offence, followed by fines of up to $2,400 for subsequent charges - are designed to act as a deterrent against repeat offending.

Meanwhile Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis faces two weeks on the sidelines after being charged with level two rough conduct against North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein.

Lewis' poor record means that even an early plea will result in a two-match suspension.

Sydney will lose forward Ben McGlynn for a week, with an early plea not enough to exonerate him of a level two striking offence against Patrick Veszpremi of the Bulldogs on Sunday.

The Adelaide Crows could be without Bernie Vince for a week, after the midfielder was charged with a level three striking offence against Fremantle's Zac Clarke.

His good record means he can accept a one-match ban with an early plea.

West Coast defender Beau Waters has been charged with level one rough conduct against the Brisbane Lions' Jack Redden and will receive a one-match ban even with an early plea.

The panel declined to take action on a number of other incidents, other than Jetta's.

West Coast defender Darren Glass was not pursued for a bump on Brisbane substitute Josh Green, and contact between Stephen Milne and Richmond's Alex Rance, and between Geelong's James Kelly and Greater Western Sydney's Toby Greene were deemed to have insufficient force to constitute reportable offences.

Richmond's Jake King has been charged with tripping St Kilda's Stephen Milne in last Friday's match - due to a poor record the sanction is increased to a one-match ban, even with an early plea.

Essendon ruckman Patrick Ryder has also been charged with tripping Melbourne's Dan Nicholson, but he can accept a reprimand and 66 points toward his future record with an early plea.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, fremantle-6160, wa, australia

First posted June 04, 2012 18:04:16

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Keeffe the latest Pie with ACL injury

Updated May 28, 2012 19:30:08

Collingwood's disastrous season of knee problems has continued with key defender Lachlan Keeffe requiring surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Keeffe went down with the injury in the final quarter of the Magpies' win over the Crows in Adelaide on Saturday night and is likely lost for the season after he undergoes a knee reconstruction.

The 22-year-old has played all of Collingwood's games so far this season in the 2011 grand finalists' march to a 7-2 record through nine rounds due to the absence of fellow defenders Ben Reid, Chris Tarrant and Nathan Brown.

He is the fourth Magpie to suffer an ACL injury this season after Andrew Krakouer, Brent Macaffer and Luke Ball all went down and ultimately under the knife.

Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said it is a tough loss for the football club.

"It's really disappointing for Lachlan and the club, especially considering he's been such a good contributor for us in 2012 so far," he told the Magpies website.

"He'll undergo a knee reconstruction and we expect him to be available to play early in the 2013 season."

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia

First posted May 28, 2012 18:39:07

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