Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker admits Crows might not be ready to play finals’ if they can’t beat Western Bulldogs
Taylor Walker admits ‘time is running out’ for himself and fellow Crows co-captain Rory Sloane to fulfil their premiership dream — but the door isn’t shut on this year just yet.
- Gone to the Dogs: Why SA teams now in need of miracle
- The Moment: Where is Wayne?
- Refusal to play tag lets Treloar put Crows to floor
- Magpies hand Crows shocking home truths
- Pyke: Entire program under microscope
Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker has conceded that he and his fellow co-skipper Rory Sloane’s chances of tasting glory with the Crows is rapidly diminishing, and said the team’s recent poor form has suggested to him “that we might not be ready to play finals”.
But with their finals chances still somehow alive despite a disappointing loss to Collingwood on Saturday, the Crows leader has laid down the gauntlet to his out-of-form teammates saying it is time to “roll up their sleeves” and “play with a bit of heart” against the Western Bulldogs.
The heavy loss to the injured-ravaged Pies looked to have all but ended the Crows’ finals aspirations, but the door was left ajar after Port Adelaide were thrashed by North Melbourne on Saturday night.
It means now the Crows need to beat the Bulldogs, and by some margin as well, and hope other results go their way.
Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >
Walker said the Crows needed to cop all the criticism that came their way following the loss, but said he wanted fans and the media to judge him and his teammates on how they respond against the Bulldogs.
“I’m shattered to be honest that we are producing what we are because I know that we are capable of playing so much better footy and we are just not doing that at this point in time,” he said.
“I hope the blokes are ready to roll their sleeves up, we are still a chance of finals.
“We need to play with a bit of heart and a bit of passion and play for each other and play for the guernsey.”
Ahead of the game against the Pies, Walker said if his side didn’t beat Collingwood then they didn’t deserve to taste September action this year.
He said his opinion on that hadn’t changed, but said the Crows now had a fantastic opportunity on Sunday.
“I said that last week and when you have to win two games to cement your spot in finals and we don’t produce what we are capable of producing, it says to me that we might not be ready to play finals,” he said.
“We just have to win, it’s plain and simple.”
If the Crows don’t pull off a miracle and make finals, it will just further close the premiership window for some of their older players such as Walker and Sloane (both 29).
Walker said ahead of a potential rebuild at West Lakes the clock was ticking.
“Time is definitely running out for guys like ‘Sloaney’ and I, the older guys, but we will have those discussions at the end of the year with the club on the way we see the footy club going forward next year and for the next three to four years,” he said.
Walker said he had “100 per cent confidence” in coach Don Pyke, and backed an end of season review to fix the problems that have plagued the Crows on the field this year.
“There is pressure on everyone at the footy club I think, we aren’t performing well… but we’ll get out of it,” he said.
Despite struggling for form at times this year, Walker said he had not at all entertained any thoughts about stepping back from co-captaincy duties to focus on his game.
The Crows could regain Alex Keath for this Sunday’s do-or-die match after he spent multiple weeks out of the side with an ankle injury, while Riley Knight and Jake Kelly will be assessed for hip and shin injuries respectively.