PATRICK Dangerfield wants star Adelaide forward Taylor Walker to take his time returning to the field to avoid injuring his right knee again and missing another season.
Adelaide will kick off its 2014 campaign on March 20 against Geelong at Simonds Stadium and is likely to be without Walker, who is still recovering from a knee reconstruction performed in May.
Walker, 23, suffered the injury in round five against Carlton and needed a traditional reconstruction, as well as surgery to repair damage to the lateral aspect of his knee.
He is yet to take part in full training, which Dangerfield believes is on the cards for mid-January.
While the Crows' midfielder is looking forward to Walker's return, he wants his goal-kicking teammate to remain patient.
"I'm sure he'd love to come back round one but at the same time, he's also aware that it's a long-term thing and we don't need him coming back a month early when he could possibly re-rupture it," Dangerfield told AFL.com.au on Tuesday, at the AFLPA's 40th anniversary gala dinner in Melbourne.
"For him, it's about ticking all the boxes and making sure that when he does come back, he can contribute for the side and be a long-term player and not re-do it for the sake coming back early.
"He's been really realistic with his own expectations on when he can come back."
Walker has been to the US recently for a 10-day training course under leading knee rehabilitation specialist Bill Knowles, and was accompanied on the trip by Crows' physio Duncan Kellaway.
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Dangerfield said Kellaway had been a positive influence on Walker throughout the tedious process of recovery.
"Having Duncan work with him as our physio has been really important because he's a very thorough individual, so he's been great for Tex," he said.
"We're certainly looking forward to having him back out there.
"Hopefully midway through the early part of the season, I'd say he'd start playing AFL again, which would be great for all Adelaide supporters and especially players to see."
While the Crows' forward setup will initially be without Walker, it will contain new recruits Eddie Betts and James Podsiadly as new avenues to goal.
Dangerfield said off-season decisions like the pursuit of Betts and Podsiadly made him confident the Crows could put 2013 behind them and re-emerge as contenders next season.
"I think we've recruited really well," he said.
"Losing Taylor basically at the start of the season last year was really difficult to cover.
"Having James Podsiadly come into the side will be fantastic for us. He'll give us a real focal point up forward, and obviously Eddie Betts gives us that firepower on the ground.
"Our forward line will certainly have a new look this coming season, which will be important, and I think if we can improve as a midfield group, our defence is pretty good, that will give us enormous confidence to start the season well."
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
