Playing alongside the emerging Riley Thilthorpe has helped Crows forward Taylor Walker get the most out of his game in 2025. 

Thilthorpe was prolific against the Suns on Saturday, booting five goals and collecting 16 disposals, to record a perfect 10 coaches’ votes. 

Walker was also busy around the sticks, kicking four goals to take his season tally to 10 from four matches. 

Joining Roo, Ditts and Loz on Triple M Adelaide Breakfast, the Crows’ all-time leading goal-kicker sang the praises of Thilthorpe and said the 22-year-old’s presence had helped him get off to a strong start this season. 

“It’s still very early in the piece, but he’s certainly doing the right things to put his name up there (in the Coleman Medal race),” Walker said. 

“He’s just going to get better and better Filth, he’s still a young kid learning his craft and that’s scary for all defenders, and pleasing for Crows fans.

“It’s great to play alongside him, his maturity has been amazing, it’s a great spot to be in the forward line next to him, and he’s getting the best defender so happy days for me.” 

Adelaide was unable to get over the line against the Suns, falling by one point in a thrilling encounter at People First Stadium. 

Walker reflected on the result and highlighted one aspect of the Crows’ game that would need improvemen. 

“We’ve got a lot of respect for them, they’ve certainly improved a lot, Gold Coast, and they showed that on the weekend,” Walker said. 

“We played some good footy on the day, and when you lose you look at some areas where you need to get better. 

“We pride ourselves on playing front half footy, we want to have repeat entries and on Saturday we were unable to do that, the ball came out of our forward line too easily.

“Looking back it was probably one that we let slip, but we did some good footy and are still in some really good form.”

Walker and his Crows teammates will get a chance to respond when they face Geelong in Gather Round’s opener at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

He said the opportunity to kick-off the showcase round was one he would not pass up. 

“Yep, I am definitely playing this week, I’m looking forward to this week, I’m not missing Gather Round,” Walker said. 

“The Cats are in very good form so it’s going to be a cracking game, we’ll put someone on Danger, someone on Tom Stewart, they’ve got so many great players. 

“It’s a great opportunity for us to open Gather Round and we can’t wait for the challenge.” 

Adelaide faces Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night at 7.10pm (ACST).