Former Adelaide Crows captain Rory Sloane has revealed the innovative way St Kilda presented their case in a bid to sign the star midfielder out of West Lakes.
It was 2018, following two seasons of All-Australian form where Sloane was named in the squad twice and the team once (2016), and the Crows were fresh off a grand final appearance.
A "pivotal leader" at the time, Sloane looked next in line for captaincy but the out-of-contract star was presented with offers from rival clubs, one of which was St Kilda.
In a creative attempt to keep the discussions secretive, Sloane revealed how the Saints approached him in the 2018 season after debate flared on Footy Classified about Oscar Allen's decision to meet with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell in person, right after the Eagles succumbed to rivals Fremantle in the Western Derby.
"If I was captain, I would've waited later in the year," Sloane said.
"In 2018, I was a pivotal leader in our footy club and I spoke to St Kilda, but we did it through a burner account later in the season on Instagram.
"I followed a burner account on Instagram and they did a full presentation, 'this is what you expect from St Kilda'. That's how discreet it was, it was way later in the season too.
"No one could trace it."
Sloane would re-sign at Adelaide for a further five years and captain the club between 2020 and 2022.
Allen's contract remains a tense watch for West Coast fans, with the captain unlikely to determine his future soon. Premiership contenders Brisbane and Hawthorn remain the frontrunners for his services.
