Adelaide coach Don Pyke insulted by thought of using captaincy honour to keep Rory Sloane from taking up AFL free agency

ADELAIDE is still to nominate its captain for AFL Season 2018, but Crows coach Don Pyke is clear on his choice — he wants to keep Taylor Walker.

Crows coach Don Pyke, left, is admiring the leadership presented by key forward Taylor Walker who is expected to retain the Adelaide Football Club captaincy for the fourth AFL season. Picture: Sarah Reed

• ‘We got a lot right’: Jacobs positive for Crows
• Adelaide wins inaugural AFLX tournament
• Meeting helps whip Crows back into shape
• Sloane contract talk won’t distract Crows

TAYLOR Walker almost certainly will retain the Adelaide Football Club captaincy with coach Don Pyke’s strong endorsement.

And Pyke considers the notion of changing team leaders — to offer All-Australian midfielder Rory Sloane the captaincy to ignore free agency at the end of the season — as insulting.

“To entertain offering the captaincy in the line of recruitment is almost offensive,” Pyke said on Tuesday at the club’s West Lakes base.

“We have a process in place (for selecting the captain),” added Pyke referring to the player vote that ultimately must be endorsed by the club administration in the board room.

“And the integrity of that process will not be compromised.”

Taylor Walker and Don Pyke at the grand final press conference. Picture Sarah Reed

Walker would start his fourth season as Crows captain — a role former coach, the late Phil Walsh, felt suited the key forward at the start of 2015 when Sloane had (and did not hide) his aspirations to be Adelaide’s skipper.

Pyke on Tuesday indicated there was no reason to move from Walker who in the past two years has been recognised by his peers across the AFL as the league’s best captain.

Also reassuring to Pyke is the strength of the leadership group around Walker — vice-captain Sloane, key defender Daniel Talia, experienced forward Eddie Betts and fellow forward Tom Lynch. To be lost from last year’s group is veteran midfielder Scott Thompson who has retired and moved to Port Adelaide as an assistant coach.

Pyke’s confidence in his team leaders was highlighted as he dismissed claims of needing to read the riot act to his players after some — “a number,” he said — returned to pre-season training not meeting the required fitness levels.

“I was not cranky at all,” Pyke said. “I spoke of standards — and I make no apology for upholding standards.

“It is what we expect — players to return (to training) meeting targets. There was a number who didn’t ... and that became a conversation between the players (rather than a rant from Pyke).

“The effort after that (player meeting) was outstanding — half (the players) have delivered personal bests.

“(That is not surprising) because I know the quality of this group.”

Rory Sloane at the Adelaide Crows season launch at West Lakes. Picture: Tom Huntley

Pyke explained why he left the grand final review until after all the players completed their off-season break. And there was no reluctance to deal with the issues presented both in the lead-up to the grand final and during the 48-point loss to Richmond at the MCG in September.

“It was not just swept under the carpet — we asked why,” Pyke said.

“It was important we all had time to reflect (on the grand final). How we played was really poor — and we went through the process to acknowledge it and understand the why.

“We were poor for two hours ... but we are still a very strong and good footy team.”

[e-mail]