ADELAIDE midfielder Rory Sloane is in doubt for next week's blockbuster against Geelong after he was concussed in the win over Melbourne on Saturday night.
Sloane was knocked out after a Dean Kent tackle during the third quarter of the 46-point victory at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
Sloane landed awkwardly in the tackle with his head slamming into the turf, momentarily causing him to lose consciousness.
The Crows medical staff called for a stretcher, but as he was about to be lifted onto the stretcher, he twisted away and leapt to his feet.
He then appeared agitated and tried to argue that he wanted to stay on the ground, before eventually being persuaded to return to the bench by captain Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts where he remained for the rest of the match.
"He's that sort of player. He’s the sort of guy (if he) goes down, he's up and wants to keep playing," Crows coach Don Pyke said.
"That's why the doctors are there and I think the rule is if the stretcher comes out you have to come off, anyway. He wasn't too keen, but eventually we got him off."
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Pyke said it was too early to confirm his playing status for next Friday night's top-of-the-table clash against the Cats, but added the signs were positive.
"Whenever any of your players go down like that, you're concerned for their health and welfare," he said.
"The fact he got up obviously was a positive and now it's a matter of going through the protocol from a concussion viewpoint.
"He seems all right. I just spoke to him then (and) we'll have to assess him during the week and see how he recovers and the doctors will, as we do with all our players, take ultimate care and make sure he's either right or he's not for next week."
"We'll see how he pulls up. It's too early to tell (if he will play next week)."
Defender Jake Lever also finished the game on the interchange bench after experiencing hamstring tightness and he will be assessed during the week.
