AFL superstar Rory Sloane pays emotional on-field tribute to dead son Leo as he and his TV presenter wife remember their 'perfect' baby two years after tragedy struck
- Belinda Sloane was 34 weeks pregnant when she found out the infant had died
- Two years later, the AFL player paid a touching tribute to his late son Leo on field
- It came moments after the football star kicked a mammoth goal against Adelaide
- The heartbroken couple gave their one-year-old boy Sonny a tribute namesake
AFL star Rory Sloane has paid an emotional on-field tribute to his dead son after scoring a goal on the two-year anniversary of the tragedy.
The Adelaide Crows player's wife Belinda was 34 weeks pregnant when she received the devastating news that her first child, Leo, had no heartbeat.
Two years on from their crushing loss, the 30-year-old took a moment during a his side's clash with Geelong on Saturday to honour his son.
Two years' on from their crushing loss, the 30-year-old took a moment during a battle against Geelong on Saturday to honour his son's legacy (pictured)
After kicking a goal from outside the 50m arc at the start of the second quarter, Sloane kissed a tattoo of a lion inked on his inner arm in Leo's memory.
He pointed his arm to the sky before he was surrounded by his teammates.
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Following Leo's death on August 24, 2018, Sloane announced the tragic news on Instagram.
'Last week we said goodbye to our beautiful little man. Leo Rory Sloane was born into the world still, but perfect,' he wrote.
After kicking a mega goal from outside the 50m arc at the start of the second quarter, Sloane kissed a tattoo of a lion (pictured with his young son Sonny) inked on his inner arm in Leo's memory
Following Leo's birth, the obstetrician asked Sloan (Rory and Belinda pictured) to cut the umbilical cord
'Thanks for making us the proudest parents and filling our hearts with love beyond measure.
'The moments we had with you are now beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.'
Following Leo's birth, the obstetrician asked Sloan to cut the umbilical cord which he described to 7 News as 'a great moment to experience as a father'.
He remembered giving their child to his wife and seeing a mixture of joy and sorrow on her face, which he described as 'heartbreaking'.
The couple welcomed another son (pictured) into the world last September and revealed the boy's tribute namesake on Instagram
'Sonny Leo Sloane. Welcome to the world,' Mrs Sloane wrote on Instagram. Pictured: Rory and Sonny Sloane
The couple welcomed another son into the world last September and revealed the boy's tribute namesake on Instagram.
'Sonny Leo Sloane. Welcome to the world,' Mrs Sloane wrote on Instagram.
The AFL champion added: 'Welcome to this world my little man.'
Sonny's first birthday will be celebrated next month.
The AFL champion added: 'Welcome to this world my little man.' Sonny's first birthday will be celebrated next month. Pictured: Rory and Sonny Sloane
'The joy on Belinda's face, matched with the sorrow - it was heartbreaking': Rory Sloane and his wife Belinda open up on the tragic loss of their first born child
Rory Sloane and his wife Belinda recently opened up on the tragic stillbirth of their first child, Leo.
The couple shared an emotional video hoping their story will help reduce stillbirth rates in Australia.
They launched a campaign, Lion Warrior, with Red Nose, a not-for-profit organisation that has been working to eradicate sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) since 1977.
'After Leo was born, first thing happened I cut the cord, which was really nice of our obstetrician, Chris, to ask me to do, a great moment to experience as a father,' the Adelaide Crows star said.
'I remember him just passing Leo straight into Belinda 's arms and again, probably the most emotional we've ever been, I think, at that period.
'I remember looking across and Belinda holding her little son in her arms and him obviously being lifeless, but seeing … the joy on Belinda's face, also matched with the sorrow, it was heartbreaking.'
AFL superstar Rory Sloane and his TV presenter wife Belinda (pictured together) have opened one year after the tragic stillborn birth of their first child Leo
The couple told Seven News that they are still grieving the loss of their first child.
'What we've found strength in is leaning on each other, grieving together,' Ms Sloane said.
'We sought help early on from a grief counsellor and that was definitely one of the best things that we've done. You've just got to give yourself that time.
'By sharing our story, we hope to raise awareness around stillbirth and to raise funds to be put into research to reduce the number of stillbirths in Australia, which haven't changed in 20 years.'
The couple shared an emotional video hoping their son's story could help reduce stillbirth rates within Australia
Ms Sloane was 34 weeks pregnant when their son was stillborn.
'Over the past year we have learnt so many valuable lessons from our gorgeous Leo. He continues to shape the people we are today,' she said in an Instagram post on Monday.
'Our hope is that by sharing his story with the world, we can raise awareness and funds to reduce Stillbirth rates within Australia.
'To view our story and donate, please click the link in my bio. This is our little Lion Warrior, this is Leo.'
Ms Sloane was 34 weeks pregnant when their son Leo was stillborn. The couple announced the death of their stillborn son in a similar post in August two years ago
Their son's still birth comes after the couple married in Byron Bay, New South Wales, in October 2016
Belinda is a presenter for SA Weekender and has presented with the Australian Open, Spring Racing and the Brownlow Medal.
Sloane joined the Eastern Ranges under-18s when he was just 16 years old, going on to captain the side in 2008.
He was drafted by Adelaide that same year.
Battling almost constant injury, Sloane made his AFL debut in round 20 against Hawthorn and played his second against Fremantle in 2010.
He signed a new contract with the Crows that year.
Red Nose has invested more than $17million into lifesaving research and reduced SIDS by 85 per cent, but more than 3,000 babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers die suddenly and unexpectedly each year.
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