Taylor Walker has firmed for AFL selection against Collingwood, bagging four goals in Adelaide’s SANFL loss to Port Magpies at Clare on Sunday.
Walker, who kicked three goals in his comeback against Glenelg last week, backed up with another impressive display against Port. The two-time Crows leading goalkicker led and marked strongly against Power-listed defender Tom Clurey. He kicked 4.3 from 15 possessions and took seven marks. He also assisted in goals to Rory Atkins and Cam-Ellis-Yolmen in the second quarter.
However, Walker’s haul couldn’t prevent Adelaide from succumbing to the in-form Magpies, who ran out 45-point winners 20.12 (132) to 13.9 (87) in front of 5,312 fans at Clare Oval.
Coach Heath Younie was resigned to the fact it would probably be the last game Walker played for the Club’s SANFL team for some time.
“Tex kicked 4.3 and probably should’ve kicked five goals with that last one when he played on,” Younie said.
“His two (SANF) games have been really solid, and this one was a real test for him with an AFL-standard defender on him. He passed with flying colours.”
The Magpies set up the victory with a seven goal-to-two opening quarter. The Crows, who trailed by 29 points at the first change, worked hard to claw back within 14 points when Walker slotted consecutive goals early in the third quarter. The Magpies regained the ascendancy with a couple of late goals and kicked away to a comfortable victory.
Younie lamented his team’s defensive effort and composure with the ball at times.
“Port are a quality side and they showed that today. They played very well and take nothing away from them, but part of it was we just didn’t defend well enough as a team today,” he said.
“I thought the effort and attitude was there, but we spoke a little bit about the value of defence as a team. Port had 32 scoring shots and, if you go across the five games we’ve played, I think four of the five teams have scored heavily against us. It’s really important for our guys to understand that defence isn’t left to the six guys in the back half.
“We turned the ball over a lot in the first half, which didn’t help. Port scored a lot on the back of that because we just couldn’t defend it.”
Young midfielder Jarryd Lyons also looked a class above, especially around stoppages. Lyons won 12 clearances from his 32 possessions. He also laid five tackles and kicked a goal.
Line-breaking Crow Brodie Martin worked tirelessly, amassing a game-high 34 possessions, seven marks, six clearances, five inside 50ms and a goal.
Utility Andy Otten played in defence and worked his way into the game nicely. He won some important contests in the second half and finished with 22 disposals and four marks. Cam Ellis-Yolmen continued to find the ball, with 23 possessions, six inside 50ms and three clearances.
Young midfielders Rory Atkins (21 possessions and a goal) and James Battersby (19 possessions and six clearances) were also handy, while rookie Alex Spina and development player Gene Robinson (two goals) both kicked their first SANFL goals.
Forwards Jason Porplyzia (sore back) and Ian Callinan (hamstring) withdrew before the match. Both could be available for Adelaide’s SANFL clash with West Adelaide on Saturday night.
ADELAIDE 2.2 5.3 9.5 13.9 (87)
PORT MAGPIES 7.1 9.6 14.9 20.12 (132)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 4, Robinson 2, Martin, Spina, Ellis-Yolmen, Cameron, Lyons, Knight, Atkins
Port Magpies: Haren 3, Harvey 3, Bruggemann 2, Butcher 2, Gray 2, Moore, Renouf, O’Shea, Neade, Mitchell, Amon, Summerton, Logan
BEST
Adelaide: Lyons, Martin, Walker, Otten, Ellis-Yolmen, L Thompson
INJURIES
Adelaide: Porplyzia (sore back) and Ian Callinan (hamstring) both withdrawn before the game
Port Magpies: Nil
Official crowd: 5,312 at Clare Oval
