Adelaide forward Taylor Walker says he is committed to helping the community and continuing to learn as he re-enters the Crows squad for pre-season 2022. 

Giving one of his first interviews since leaving the Club in August, Walker spent his break reflecting on the racism incident that ended his season. 

“It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve had to go through to date… I put my hand up and said I was in the wrong,”  Walker told Triple M’s  Roo, Ditts & Loz. 

“I’ve learnt a lot about myself, my Indigenous teammates past and present and a lot about the community.

“We want to eradicate this, not just in Australia but all over the world.”

Walker returned to West Lakes last Wednesday to join the 1-4 year players as they kicked off pre-season. 

While the forward stayed in touch with players while away from the Club, he revealed he was still nervous about getting back on the track. 

“I was quite nervous and anxious (to go back), it felt like I was five or six years old going back to my first day of school back in Broken Hill,” Walker said.

“(It was) a bit of the unknown but the boys were welcoming when I came back… getting back and kicking the footy around is what I love doing.”

Among that group was Tariek Newchurch, who travelled with the veteran and a group of AFC staff and players to his community of Port Augusta during the break. 

“There were five or six coaches, three or four coaches and staff and some admin - it was one of those things where we certainly supported our slogan ‘We Fly As One’,” Walker said of the trip.

“I was quite nervous going out there but they were very supportive, it’s a lovely community out there in Port Augusta and I loved every minute of it.

“It was great to go up there with young Tariek Newchurch - that’s his community. He learnt a lot as well, it was a great couple of days up there.

Walker said that, going forward, he wanted to prioritise connecting with and understanding Indigenous culture and community. 

“It’s something that’s going to forever be there (for me), it’s never going to go away, and I’m looking forward to trying to make a difference in the community,” Walker said.

While Walker won’t return to the game until Round Four in 2022, his sights are firmly set on helping nurture and elevate Adelaide’s young squad.

“The young boys started last week and I’ve been going in for the main sessions to have a kick and catch with those boys,” Walker said. 

“It’s a bit of a different transition, we’ve gone from the top three oldest team in the comp three or four years ago, now we’re one of the youngest. 

“I look forward to trying to fast-track our young group. We’ve got some good recruits in, we’ve got some players we didn’t see much of last year like Wayne Milera and Matty Crouch.

“If we can get those guys up and going and playing I reckon we’re in a good spot.”