Crows captain Taylor Walker ends difficult year by announcing his engagement to partner Ellie Brown

Crows captain Taylor Walker has ended a difficult year on a positive note, becoming engaged to his longtime partner Ellie Brown.

Crows captain Taylor Walker is looking to a brighter 2019 after becoming engaged to his longtime partner Ellie Brown.

Broken Hill-born Walker, 28, popped the big question on Christmas Eve, before revealing the good news on social media on Wednesday.

The happy couple, who have been dating for more than four years, shared the same photo on Instagram.

It shows Ms Brown, an interior stylist, with her arm around Walker’s shoulder as she admires her new engagement ring with a large diamond.

They both used the same caption — 24.12.18 — the date of the engagement.

Teammates, friends and fans immediately offered their congratulations, including former Crow Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald.

“This is equivalent to kicking 10 goals in a game. So happy for you guys #wewedasone,” he wrote on Instagram.

It’s some well-deserved good news for Walker and Ms Brown, 27, who have had a difficult year.

They suffered the heartache of losing their unborn baby last month.

The Crows superstar forward briefly took leave from the club’s pre-season training after the tragedy.

Walker and Ms Brown had revealed on social media in September they were expecting their first child next March.

On the field, it’s also been a trying year for the 167-game veteran, who battled foot and hamstring injuries before a suspension prematurely ended his 2018 AFL season.