Rory Sloane … a midfield leader who is a popular choice to be the Crows’ next skipper. Picture: Sarah Reed

SA FOOTBALL legend John Platten believes Rory Sloane should be the Adelaide Football Club’s next captain — and voters in The Advertiser’s annual footy fans survey overwhelmingly agree.

Platten yesterday claimed Sloane was a better player than Brownlow Medal favourite and former teammate Patrick Dangerfield and should be join incumbent Taylor Walker as co-captain next season.

“It takes a bit of pressure off Tex, who is a good leader, even sharing media commitments,” Platten said.

“Both are still young and leaders for the club for the next eight years, so good luck to them.

“Looking at his workrate, Rory is a great leader on the ground, gives 110 per cent … switched on every game.”

Sloane’s leadership credentials have certainly won over survey voters.

Asked who the next captain of Adelaide would be, 61 per cent nominated the midfielder.

Jake Lever was a distant second with 17 per cent, with Daniel Talia on 15 per cent and Rory Laird on seven per cent.

Walker also acknowledged Sloane’s role as a team leader at a press conference yesterday.

“Sloaney’s having a great year,” he said.

“I’ve breally been impressed with the way he’s been playing and leading the midfielders through there.”

Former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes was another to sing Sloane’s praises, saying in his column in The Advertiser that Sloane was “a once-in-a-generation player who inspires his teammates.”.

“If the Crows happen to snare the flag in 2016 and Walker accepts the cup on the podium, it should be Sloane who has second grasp on the silverware — as we remember with Chris Judd calling up his predecessor Ben Cousins in the 2006 AFL grand final,” Cornes wrote.

“Despite being the same age as Walker (26), it would be a pity if Sloane’s exemplary leadership skills are not fully realised by captaining the Adelaide Football Club before his career ends.”

Have your say by voting in The Advertiser footy fans survey by following this link. There are 2016 Toyota AFL Grand Final tickets to be won.