NewsBite

Adelaide Crows captain Taylor Walker plans on shedding weight with early start to pre-season after foot surgery

ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker plans to drop a few kilos and says he has 100 per cent confidence in his body after foot surgery to get an early start on pre-season.

Tom Doedee's AFL season ended after break to collarbone

ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker plans to drop a few kilos and says he has 100 per cent confidence in his body after foot surgery to get an early start on pre-season.

Walker has carried a plantar fascia injury for two years and while it was not considered severe enough for surgery after last year’s grand final, it has caused him increasing pain this season.

Walker has been troubled by a foot injury for the best part of two years and has struggled to train this season. Picture: Kelly Barnes (AAP)
Walker has been troubled by a foot injury for the best part of two years and has struggled to train this season. Picture: Kelly Barnes (AAP)
Taylor Walker has a shot at goal during the Showdown. Picture Sarah Reed
Taylor Walker has a shot at goal during the Showdown. Picture Sarah Reed

This time last week he didn’t think he would need an operation but met with the specialist on Thursday and went under the knife on Monday.

“It got worse this year and I get pain in my heel so I went in for minor surgery and got it partially released,” Walker told Triple M radio on Tuesday.

“They cut a bit of it (planta fascia) — under 40 per cent — and they never guarantee (it will fix it) but it’s highly recommended.

“It’s supposed to have a bit of give and mine was really tight and putting a lot of pain through my heel, every morning when I’d put the foot down the blood would rush straight to it so fingers crossed (the surgery) will do the job.”

Walker played just 14 games in between injury and suspension this season but says he will start pre-season training almost immediately to hit back next year.

Taylor Walker is looking to bounce back in 2019 after an injury and suspension-interrupted campaign. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images
Taylor Walker is looking to bounce back in 2019 after an injury and suspension-interrupted campaign. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“I’m really confident that my body can do what I want to do and I’ve got a couple of weeks head start on the other boys,” he said.

“Fingers crossed I can get myself fitter and a little bit stronger, and drop a little bit of weight so I can move around the ground a bit and hit the ground running when we come back for pre-season.

“This will be about two or three weeks (until I can start running) but I can sit on a bike and do a bit of boxing asap.”

The Crows finish their season against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night where a win would take their record to a respectable but still disappointing 12-10.

“Fingers crossed the boys can get another win and go into the off-season with some momentum,” Walker said.

“It’s obviously been a really challenging year for us as a footy club and if we can get some momentum going into next year it can set us up for a big year.”

reece.homfray@news.com.au

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/adelaide-crows-captain-taylor-walker-plans-on-shedding-weight-with-early-start-to-preseason-after-foot-surgery/news-story/8756ab33d76cd0529b616ad368ef1f4b