Agree with everything you’ve written in this post, but I dispute this. He’s gotten his wish, I don’t think he cares about his parting legacy, he knows so many of our supporters will just cling to the memory of mid-2010s Sloane for dear life.
His contract comes at the expense of the young kids, the team, and winning. Him going on record saying he won’t have to worry about being relegated to the SANFL for years (plural) and his continuous selection in the back half of the season (Sloane starting over Pedlar in the Sydney game was just abhorrent, but he’d just re-signed, what other choice did the club have) just makes it blatantly clear the club doesn’t hold him to any sort of standards. And he’s certainly not self-aware enough to bow out gracefully, he’s also on record stating he won’t retire on his own accord.
Next year is going to be very interesting, and potentially very frustrating if what we fear comes to fruition.
Never under estimate the power of PR. The club got dragged through the mud over retiring Ben Hart in 2006. Would it be such a surprise if the club fears similar reprisals from its members and media. The culture Nicks has created also plays into this. Last thing we need to be seen as when Nicks wants to pass off the image of we are all friends and a family is being so cutthroat. It was always stated by the club Sloane has the right to go out on his own terms. Ok, but what if a player lacks so much self awareness they are doing themselves a disservice but the club lacks the bigboy pants to have that conversation in public because of a fear of a backlash?
incoming.
) just makes it blatantly clear the club doesn’t hold him to any sort of standards. And he’s certainly not self-aware enough to bow out gracefully, he’s also on record stating he won’t retire on his own accord.
