Adelaide forward Taylor Walker says his role in 2025 will be “very similar” to the past few seasons.
The Crows’ all-time leading goal kicker signed a one year extension on Wednesday, tying him to West Lakes for an 18th season.
Walker played 18 matches in 2024, and kicked 29 goals, while providing crucial guidance to budding talls Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe.
Speaking to Roo, Ditts and Loz on Triple M Adelaide Breakfast, Walker said he did not expect much to change when it came to his role in 2025.
“In the past few years we’ve had really good conversations from week-to-week on what it (my role) looks like, and it will be very similar next year,” Walker said.
“If I’m still playing really good footy, then I’ll play, and if there’s going to be times where I’ll need a bit of a rest being a bit older, then I’ll do that.
“I love helping out the younger players at the footy Club, I get more of a thrill seeing them kick a goal than myself, so it will be great to continue working with our young forwards next year.
“Obviously it has been a disappointing year for us, but I am looking forward to getting back to work and helping these young guys get a taste of finals footy before I float off into the sunset.”
Walker’s career with the Crows began in 2006, when he moved to Adelaide from Broken Hill to be the Club’s first AFL NSW scholarship player, before being drafted in 2007.
He said the extension gave him a chance to reflect on just how long he had been involved with the Club.
“Going into next year I would have been down here (in Adelaide) longer than I was in Broken Hill, and some of the kids that are going to get drafted this year wouldn’t have been born when I first came to the Club,” Walker said.
“When you think about it like that, it’s a little bit weird, but I am very excited to go around again and keep helping this group.”
Reflecting on the 2024 season, Walker said it was “disappointing” to miss out on finals and would do everything he could to help the Club return to the major round next year.
“It was unacceptable the way we ended the year, we came into the season wanting to play finals and didn’t do that, so it was disappointing,” Walker said.
“Looking ahead to next season, we want to hit the ground running and get back to playing finals.
“We may get a player or two in to help us try and achieve that, and then we just need some continued growth and development from the young guys we’ve got at the Club.”
