Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker says he believes he is still offering a lot to the Crows as debate rages around his ongoing form

Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker says he is confident of overcoming an elbow injury and hopeful the Crows coaching staff will ‘back him in again’ as debate rages around his form.

Brad Crouch, Taylor Walker and Paul Seedsman walk off after the loss. Picture SARAH REED

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Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker says he is hopeful the Crows coaching staff will “back me in again this week” as debate rages around his place in the side ahead of the match against Carlton.

As footy legends went into bat for the Crows star, who has struggled for form in recent weeks prompting Adelaide assistant coach Ben Hart to say that no player was guaranteed automatic selection, Walker himself said he was not playing well but still thought he warranted a spot in the side.

Taylor Walker celebrates his goal against the Bombers. Picture SARAH REED

“There is a certain point where you back people in and they are not performing then you have to make changes,” he said on Triple M.

“For me personally I’m not in the best form but I’m still doing things that I think warrant a spot, so I would like to think they will back me in again this week.

“I don’t think that is going to help (making mass changes for the Carlton game) … I’m backing us in to get a win on the weekend.”

In the wake of Walker’s performance against Essendon — he finished with just eight disposals, a goal and a tackle — footy legends have said despite his lack of influence for the Crows of late the co-skipper should remain in the side.

Former Crow Wayne Carey told Talking Footy that Walker should “categorically not” be dropped.

“He has an up and down period but if you look at his goal assists over the last four or five weeks he is ranked fifth in the competition,” he said.

On Footy Classified Matthew Lloyd and Chris Judd said Walker, who has kicked 29 goals in 17 games this season, should play out the season with the Crows.

But Lloyd and Judd said beyond 2019 the Crows should look in a different direction.

“I think you let him see out the season. Obviously he won’t be captain next year you wouldn’t have thought,” Lloyd said.

“I just don’t think he influences many games. He’s dined out the week before against the Gold Coast Suns.

“Just because he’s not imposing enough, he struggles when games get tight.”

Taylor Walker in agony with an elbow injury against the Bombers Picture SARAH REED

Judd said Walker, 30 next year, needed a fellow key forward in his mid-20s to be able to take some of the pressure off.

“We look at West Coast, now [Josh] Kennedy’s starting to get to the twilight years, they’ve got [Jack] Darling there ready to take the No.1 banana in that forward line,” he said.

“That’s really what it looks like he needs.”

Walker reinjured his elbow against the Bombers but said he thought he was “still a good chance” to be fit to face the Blues.

Crows science and medical coordinator Steve Saunders said on Tuesday that Walker aggravated the the high-grade medial ligament strain suffered against Geelong in Round 15.

“He’s been managing it really well, but unfortunately in the game on the weekend he hyperextended the elbow.

“This has aggravated the joint, but not so much the ligament, so while it is sore, we expect it to track well later in the week and for him to be ready.”

The Crows have already put a line through Cam Ellis-Yolmen as he continues his rehabilitation for a low-level stress reaction to his right fibula.