Adelaide captain Taylor Walker confident he will be fit for Crows’ AFL season-opener

ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker is confident he will be fit for Round 1 as he steps up his recovery from a foot injury, while star midfielder Brad Crouch is a chance to return for Saturday’s pre-season match against Port Adelaide.

ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker is confident he will be fit for Round 1 as he steps up his recovery from a foot injury.

Walker was ruled out of all of the Crows’ pre-season games and placed in a protective moon boot last month after he was diagnosed with a plantar fascia strain.

But the star forward, who avoided surgery on the problem, said his troubled left foot had responded well to treatment.

Walker remained hopeful of lining up in Adelaide’s season-opener against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday, March 23.

“I’m a good chance,” Walker told Triple M on Tuesday morning, when asked of his likelihood of playing in round one.

“I’m getting there slowly.

“It’s one of those things that all depends on how I pull up (from training).

“Feet take a little bit longer then other parts of the body, but I’m getting there.”

Walker will sit out Adelaide’s final JLT Community Series match against Port Adelaide at Alberton this Saturday as he continues his rehabilitation.

Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch is a chance to return to action in Saturday’s pre-season clash with Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed

But the skipper said Crows’ midfielder Brad Crouch was a “good chance” to face the Power as he looked to bounce back from an abdominal strain.

Walker said Riley Knight (achilles) and Brodie Smith (knee) remained further away from a return to action.

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The Port clash will be just Adelaide’s second pre-season hitout following last month’s 10-point win against Fremantle in Strathalbyn.

Walker said his teammates were building match fitness given many of them featured in the inaugural AFLX and an internal trial match on the weekend.

“It’s something we’ve spoken to the AFL about for years (that) we only need two (pre-season games),” Walker, 27, said.

“It will be interesting to see if you’ve played both games, or if you’ve played one and missed the other one, how well prepped you are for round one.

“But I suppose time will tell.”