OLLIE Wines is staying with Port Adelaide, as the bullish midfielder promised to coach Ken Hinkley in the pre-season.

Tom Lynch - the Adelaide Tom Lynch rather than the Gold Coast free-agent - finally has his signature on a new contract with the Crows, just as the forward has been itching to do since the end of last season. It might not be exactly the contract - by dollars - as Lynch had hoped, but there is still a rare group of AFL players who are prepared to put team loyalty before money.

And now it is over to you Rory Sloane. The Crows vice-captain is - with the Tom Lynch at the Suns - one of the few free agents still to declare his intent for next season and beyond. And with Collingwood midfielder-forward Jordan de Goey having ignored $5 million offers to take less to stay at the Magpies, there is going to be more money to tempt Sloane and Lynch to defect with free agency.

Sloane faces the decision of a lifetime - and a “short” lifetime in football where, as in real life, there is no dress rehearsal. At 28, Sloane can negotiate his last big contract.

Does he stay at Adelaide to be a one-club player? Does he return to Melbourne, making a decision that extends beyond football to take into account the television career of his wife and the benefits of starting a family around their own family in Victoria?

There is the ripple effect from Sloane’s decision that influences player, club - and the fans.

Sloane’s call on his future brings back memories of the hectic days after Adelaide’s first AFL flag in 1997 when Andrew McLeod was putting in his collection a premiership medal, the Norm Smith Medal as best-afield in the grand final, the Crows club champion title ... and reading an incredible offer delivered by Scott Clayton to become a Brisbane player.

Sitting with Andrew and his wife Rachel at their Royal Park home, the message to the McLeods was clear: They had every right to listen to the option presented by the Lions. It is the same for the Sloanes as they become courted by Melbourne-based clubs such as Hawthorn and Geelong.

But there are two other thoughts ... beware of the burden of changing clubs with the expectation of needing to be the “saviour”. And do not undervalue the merit of being a one-club player. When has anyone heard a player in his retirement speech regret his decision to be loyal to one club?

The “saviour” tag is very difficult to carry at an AFL club. It has proven again and again to be impossible to live up for many players.

Adelaide has its own decision to make, particularly when Sloane is a restricted free agent and can be held at West Lakes as long as the Crows match the contract from his biggest suitor. That in itself is an interesting call that so far, in the short tenure of AFL free agency, has not made been by any club.

Adelaide must keep Sloane. It also must find a speedy midfielder to work with him.

After watching the SA under-18 team at the national titles, it is easy to understand the eagerness to sign Woodville-West Torrens forward Jack Lukosius. But the Crows should be more tempted by West Adelaide midfielder Izak Rankine.

Do not let anyone cloud this debate with the notion there are heaps of midfielders in the draft pool, but there is just one gun forward such as Lukosius. There are indeed a heap of midfielders, but there is not one as special as Rankine.

And when you have seen a great forward such as Gary Ablett kick nine goals for Geelong in a losing grand final - because the midfield lacked that special winner - the case for Rankine becomes even stronger.

Even the argument of which free agent to chase - Sloane or Lynch - should favour Sloane. An ordinary midfield will not win games no matter how great the player standing in the goalsquare is.

Adelaide’s list-management focus must be keep Sloane - and find another pacy midfielder to add to the workmanlike crew Don Pyke has today with Bryce Gibbs, Matt Crouch, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Hugh Greenwood.

And the fans?

Clearly Crows supporters want Sloane to re-sign with Adelaide - and not solely to end the run of star players defecting from West Lakes, as has been noted in recent years (without too many recognising some good players come to Adelaide as well).

Sloane does define the heart and soul of the Adelaide Football Club with the way he plays as a midfielder with an insatiable appetite for contested football.

So it is over to you Rory. At Round 16, there is not much that will change in the decision-making process on your future.