Fine lion: Adelaide Crows star Rory Sloane’s touching tattoo tribute

He’s just been announced as a co-captain for 2019 but Crows crowd favourite Rory Sloane has another surprise up his sleeve.

A social media post from wife Belinda at the weekend revealed the midfield star, who will front the media this afternoon, is sporting a new lion tattoo on the inside of his left arm.

The impressive piece of artwork is understood to be a touching tribute to stillborn son Leo.

The new ink coincides with today’s announcement Sloane will share the Crows’ captaincy alongside good mate Taylor Walker for the 2019 season.

Sloane, who has previously been a vice-captain, said he was honoured to join Walker and names such as Mark Bickley, Mark Ricciuto and Simon Goodwin to hold the coveted title.

The appointment comes after a challenging year for Sloane.

On field he battled both injury, persistent tags from the opposition and speculation over his future before signing a five-year contract extension which will keep him at West Lakes until the end of 2023.

Sloane and wife Belinda also went through turmoil on a personal level.

In heartbreaking Instagram posts in August, the couple announced their baby, Leo Rory, was stillborn, along with a photo of both parents holding the hand of the son they dubbed their #lionwarrior, who was due in October.

Sloane followed it up with an Instagram post on December 30 with a picture of the couple during the pregnancy where he described 2018 as “an incredibly challenging year”.

“Looking back at this photo I will always remember the love, happiness and pure joy we had throughout the whole pregnancy, and continue to have for Leo. I would do anything to have changed Leo’s course, however I will be forever grateful to have so many beautiful memories from the time he was with us #lionwarrior”

Fans will be able to get a glimpse of the new tattoo at the Adelaide Crows’ Fan Fair 2019 season launch at the Adelaide Showground on Tuesday afternoon.