A fitter, stronger and leaner Taylor Walker expects to cover more territory next year under the AFL’s reduced interchange cap.
Rotations will be cut from 120 to just 90 next season, along with the removal of the substitute.
Walker ran a personal best two-kilometre time trial on his return to training and said he’s already shed three kilograms in preparation for next season.
“With the 90 rotations we’re going to have to stay on the ground a little bit longer and probably cover a little bit more ground,” Walker said on Tuesday.
“I made a conscious effort to lose a little bit of weight. I’ve lost about three kilos.
“If I can get another one or two off I’ll be happy.”
The two-time Crows leading goalkicker expects an increased focus on endurance to extend across the competition leading into Season 2016.
“I think you’ll see it in every AFL team,” Walker said.
“Most teams will rest their mids forward and the key-position players, centre half-forward, centre half-back and the rucks, will probably spend a little bit more time on the field.
“I think the game will slow down a little bit late in quarters, so your aerobic base has to be pretty sound.”
Walker played a career-high 23 games and kicked 59 goals last season in what was his best return since 2012. He finished fourth in the Coleman Medal and was selected in the All Australian squad of 40 for the second time in his 107-game career.
He went goalless just once and slotted three goals or more on 11 occasions.
“I’d like to consistently have an impact on the game throughout four quarters,” Walker said of his aims for next season.
“I’m sure most key-position players would like to be like that.”
The Crows will break for Christmas after what is predicted to be a scorching week in Adelaide, with the mercury tipped to top 42 degrees on Saturday.
Adelaide’s opening NAB Challenge match is barely two months away with the Crows scheduled to take on Grand Finalists West Coast at Unley Oval on February 21.
Walker said he’ll unwind with family and friends over the festive period, but already has one eye firmly on the clash with the Eagles.
“This will be our third week before Christmas, then we have a little bit of a break over Christmas, but we’ll still train pretty hard,” he said.
“We’ll come back and we’ll have six weeks before February 21 (against West Coast).
“We’re really looking forward to it.”
