Adelaide forward Taylor Walker can remember being impatient during his first season at the Club.

The forward was selected at the 2007 AFL National Draft but was made to earn his stripes in the SANFL with Norwood before finally making his AFL debut in Round One, 2009.

Now, fast forward 15 years since becoming a Crow, Walker is on the cusp of lining up in his 250th AFL game.

Speaking to the media ahead of the milestone game against West Coast on Saturday, Walker said biding his time in the SANFL helped turn him into the player he was today.

“I wanted to play AFL, that’s all you want to do as a 17, 18 year-old kid, but my defensive side of my game was not at the level, although I was kicking goals and that’s what I thought would get me a gig,” Walker said.

“I remember one thing Craigy (former coach Neil Craig) always said ‘If you embrace your SANFL Club, they’ll embrace you’.

“That’s certainly one thing I did and still to this day I have a good relationship with Norwood Footy Club.

“He (Craig) certainly taught me a few things, patience isn’t one of my strengths but he taught me how to be a little bit patient on the field.

“It was a great development and in hindsight, it got me to where I am now.”

Walker said he had spent time reflecting on his career so far with his family and was proud to pull on a Crows guernsey for the 250th time on Saturday.

“I just love footy… It’s good to be able to reflect and think about how I’ve got to this stage,” Walker said.

“I just want to keep playing footy for as long as I can but I want to be able to perform. It’s a great game and I’m very fortunate to have been able to play football for 15 years so far.

“I grew up playing for North Broken Hill Bulldogs and I got to see some of the greats play 200-300 games and I was like ‘How good would that be?’

“I’ve been able to do it at the highest level just through hard work and being resilient, not taking no for an answer, really.”

Despite playing in finals, a Grand final and plenty of great wins, Walker said his proudest moment had come away from the footy field, after becoming a father three-and-a-half years ago.

“My kids are beautiful little human beings and being able to see them grow over the last three and a half years has been amazing,” Walker said.

“Having a little girl has added to our family and that’s one of my biggest highlights.

“As a sportsperson you become very selfish and tunnel into everything being about me. 

“But (becoming a father) has given me great understanding and perspective about how you can still perform when there's change and you have to be able to be adaptable to what’s thrown at you.”

Walker said he was looking forward to the game and hoped to cap a memorable week with a win.

“The Club has been amazing (this week) and they certainly have made me feel very special,” Walker said.

“The boys came in today with Ellie and all my great mates from home sent some videos through which I got to watch in front of the whole footy Club this morning, which brought a tear to my eye.

“We had a great session today, a really hot contest and if we are going to win, we need to bring that Saturday afternoon.”

Adelaide plays West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday at 4.05pm.

Tickets available here.