CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson has praised Taylor Walker’s rehabilitation efforts and believes the key forward could be close to a return by the start of the season.
It was expected Walker would need the full 12 months to recover from a horrific knee injury and subsequent reconstruction, ruling him out until at least round five.
But, describing him as the ultimate professional, Sanderson said 'Tex' could be ready to go in time to face Geelong on March 20.
"[His progress] couldn't be better to be honest, I'm really excited about the shape that he's in, he looks really fit - no setbacks at all at this point," Sanderson said.
"He's an incredible, professional athlete the way he prepares himself … he hasn't put a foot wrong.
"He'll definitely want to play round one … but he's a really important asset for us, we're not going to take any unnecessary risks when it comes to putting him back on the field before he's ready.
"At this stage I think he's going to be ready for the start of the season."
Sanderson will keep a constant eye on his full-forward after Christmas.
Walker has not yet managed to make sharp turns at training and, while he is running well outdoors, Sanderson said he would obviously need to recapture the confidence and ability to do so before he played.
"We just have to keep taking it almost day by day," he said of Walker's recovery.
"When we get closer to the games he's got to get confident too that he can twist and turn and jump and mark. We'll make sure he's ready before we put him back on the field."
The coach was equally impressed with gun recruit Eddie Betts, who has already excited the club with his training as well as his leadership.
"I'm watching him train and he really stands out," he said.
"He's a class player … he's just going to be fantastic for us."
Sanderson said he'd "love more hours in the week" to train his group harder but that he was as satisfied as he could be entering the Christmas break.
After conceding the club didn't train as hard as it needed to after a stellar 2012 season, Sanderson said the same mistake hadn't been made again.
"Last year after we came off the back of 2012 and we played a lot of footy we didn't keep the foot on the throat, particularly at this time of the year," he said.
"We were a bit cautious.
"This year it's probably the opposite.
"We're doing over 50km a week of high intensity running so we'll certainly be ready when it comes to round one."
Sanderson also sent out Christmas wishes to the club's strategy and innovation coach Dean Bailey who has been on indefinite leave since being diagnosed with cancer last month.
Bailey will begin chemotherapy treatment on Friday.
With a date for Bailey's return unknown, Sanderson said the club would continue "doing what we can to cover him".
"'Bails' will start his chemo today. [It's] really important that we get right behind him," he said.
"Our prayers and best wishes are certainly with him
"We'll just give him time to ensure that he fights it as best he can and our support is certainly with him."
