Taylor Walker is leading the way in Adelaide’s rehabilitation group according to injured defender Brent Reilly.

Reilly, 29, joined Walker on the Club’s injury list after dislocating his shoulder in the Round 14 win over Gold Coast. Walker, who is recovering from a knee reconstruction, has been on the sidelines since April.

Click the play button above to watch Tex’s interview and rehab vision

Reilly said the star forward’s positive attitude had rubbed off on other injured players.

“Tex has been outstanding,” Reilly said.

“His attitude in everything we do is very good. I think he’s been a real leader in rehab, getting the blokes to do the right things at the right time.

“He’s coming along quite well.”

Last week, Walker took a significant step in his recovery, running for the first time with the aid of an anti-gravity treadmill. The 23-year-old spent two months in a knee brace post-surgery and said he had to rely on his teammates to drive him around Adelaide.

“I couldn’t drive for the first nine weeks, so Bernie (Vince) was a big help. Big Joshy Jenkins helped me get around a bit too, so I had to repay the favour when he did his ankle,” Walker said.

“I had to get a couple of cab charges from the Club … but Bernie was the main one.”

Walker has tried to maintain a positive mentality throughout his rehabilitation.

“It’s easy when you get an injury to get a bit down on yourself, but I’m just focusing on controlling what I can and that’s my rehab and doing everything I can in that area,” he said.

“I just think whenever there’s a negative, you can turn it into a positive and that’s been my attitude.

“I’m just doing everything I can to hopefully be right early next season.”

Walker has also involved himself in a number of activities inside and away from the Club, including raising $70,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation by shaving his trademark mullet. The Crows 2012 leading goalkicker has also played a role in the coaches’ box on match day.

“I’ve tried to keep myself busy and stay around the boys as much as I can. I reckon I’d lose my mind if I didn’t get around the boys. I try to get to the Club at the same time as everyone else and help out where I can,” Walker said.

“I had a couple of games in the coaches’ box, which was very different and interesting. It gets pretty heated in there and it was a good experience. I’ve been looking at the game a bit differently … and I’ve learned a lot over the past three or four months just sitting back and watching the boys play.”

Walker’s also had plenty of time to think about the hair style he’ll sport when he returns to footy.

“I’ll wait and see, but I reckon the mullet has run its race,” he said.

“I’ll probably leave it for a bit until it gets a bit colder … I might have to grow it back.

“I’m not too sure yet.”