Taylor Walker has been dreaming of a role change so it’s only fair SuperCoaches and Crows fan dream of what could eventuate
Adelaide forward Taylor Walker’s move to a wing is still more unlikely than likely but that’s what Richmond legend Matthew Richardson thought prior to the start of 2008. Can Tex become SuperCoach relevant?
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It’s November and former Adelaide captain Taylor Walker has been dreaming of a position change.
So it’s only fair SuperCoaches – and Crows fans – dream about what could eventuate.
“I had a little dream over the past five days,” Walker said on Triple M of his midfield vision in 2020.
“It’s an idea, but I’ve got to speak to (new coach) Matty Nicks about that first.”
And his new coach has an open mind.
“If he wants to play on the wing and he can prove to the group that he can play a role for the team that gets that wing role done, then he can play on the wing,” Nicks responded on Thursday as Adelaide’s second-to-fourth year players returned to training.
The move is still more unlikely than likely but that’s what Richmond legend and forward-turned-midfielder Matthew Richardson thought prior to the start of 2008.
“You would’ve got pretty good odds at the start of the year, but it’s been a good move for myself and for Richmond,” Richardson said on the club’s website following his 16th season in the competition.
Good was an understatement.
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In 2008, a 33-year-old Richardson moved higher up the ground, spending 23 per cent of game-time on the wing, allowing for a 19-year-old Jack Riewoldt to make his way in the Tigers’ forward line.
The AFL hall-of-fame member, who had 743 goals to his name prior to Round 1, polled 22 votes to finish equal-third in the Brownlow Medal, after averaging career-high disposals (18.2), marks (11.1) and uncontested possessions (12.3), while still booting 48 majors.
From a SuperCoach point-of-view, Richardson, who stands at 195cm, posted a score of 100 or more in 10 of his first 15 games, three of them in excess of 150.
Richardson managed just seven SuperCoach tons, with a 129-point performance against North Melbourne the highest, from 22 games the previous year.
Across his 11-year career, scoreboard aside, the 193cm Walker rates elite for inside 50s and metres gained and above-average for disposals, uncontested possessions and marks.
But he hasn’t been relevant in fantasy circles since his breakout year of 2012, which saw him average 100 points per game, after posting 10 SuperCoach tons – and three more in the 90s – in 16 matches.
There‘s unlikely to be a top-three Brownlow Medal finish but, if the dream becomes a reality, could there would be a similar spike in Walker’s numbers, especially without the captaincy burden, in 2020?
He might not have Richardson’s running ability, despite trimming down over the off-season, but Walker’s ability to find a target inside 50 would suit the new position.
Adelaide has retained possession from 65 per cent of his inside-50 kicks since 2016, ranking Walker, who has booted 170 goals in the past four seasons, No. 1 of the top-100 kicks in the competition.
Bit of talk about Tex playing on the wing. Since 2016, Adelaide has retained possession from 65% of his kicks into the forward 50 - ranked No.1 of the top-100 kicks in the AFL. #2020AFLProspectus @Adelaide_FC
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) November 13, 2019
And the rise Darcy Fogarty – and the potential need to play recruit Billy Frampton or Elliot Himmelberg to give Reilly O’Brien a chop-out in the ruck – could put pressure on the 29-year-old’s spot in Adelaide’s attack.
“Fog (Fogarty) will play again, Elliott Himmelberg, Billy Frampton, there’s a lot to choose from,” Walker said of the forward-line dilemma facing Nicks over summer.
Although Nicks, who highlighted what a tough match-up Walker would be for a more lightly-built wingman, said “we’ve got a fair way to go until Round 1” the first-time senior coach is open to any of his players changing position, as long as it helps the team.
“I would never say to a player you can’t play a position, until it’s proven its probably not best for the side,” Nicks said.
“We’ll see what plays out but don’t be surprised if he (Walker) pops out there every now and then if he can get it done.”
A potential switch for Walker, who will be priced around $360k in SuperCoach next season, wouldn’t address the need for speed in Adelaide’s midfield but that could come from new-look on-ball mix instead.
Or maybe The Phantom is just dreaming, too.
