Captain Taylor Walker’s strong message to Adelaide Crows

TAYLOR Walker ignored the hysteria surrounding Adelaide’s pre-season mind training camp and delivered a strong pre-game message to teammates before producing one of his finest games as captain against Richmond last week.

Crows captain Taylor Walker celebrates after kicking a goal against Richmond on Thursday night. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

• I’m so proud: Pyke
• We’re here to help: Jenkins message to Crows upset by camp
• Cam, Crows never lost faith
• Bone’s Round 2 rantings, takeaways
• The Barometer: Who’s hurt at your club?

TAYLOR Walker ignored the hysteria surrounding Adelaide’s pre-season mind training camp and told his teammates to “play your role” before producing one of his finest games as captain against Richmond last week.

After Walker was moved to send a text message to the players imploring them to stick together when news of the January camp on the Gold Coast became public last Monday, he did not reference the week-long saga in his final address before the first bounce.

“He just made sure that we all knew we’d done all the work in pre-season and we were in the team for a reason,” Cameron Ellis-Yolmen said.

“He gave us belief and just really pumped us up.

“We weren’t focusing on what happened externally during the week, it was about ‘do your part on game day’.

“He just said ‘we all know what to do, play your role’ and that’s the best thing about our team because when we do we can come away with a win like that’.”

Taylor Walker pumps up his Adelaide Crows teammates at Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Hugh Greenwood, who had 19 contested possessions, said Walker inspired the team with his words and then his actions.

“He said he trusts and backs every bloke in that huddle, we were all there for a reason and bring your strengths and play your role and it would be a collective effort,” Greenwood said.

“And sure enough the stats sheet in the game pretty much mirrored his message because it was an even contribution from everyone and that was the most pleasing thing.”

The Crows overcame a week of off-field drama and then injuries to four key players - two of them game-ending - to beat Richmond by six goals at Adelaide Oval.

It will never make up for the pain of losing last year’s grand final to the Tigers by eight goals but it was a sign the Crows will not go away quietly this season. And leading from the front was Walker who was outstanding in his first game of the year.

Walker leads the team out onto Adelaide Oval. Picture SARAH REED

With an interrupted pre-season, no JLT Series games and being left out of Round 1, the key forward kicked 4.0 from 11 disposals in response to his own underwhelming grand final performance.

“He was amazing, he came in and led from the start and his presence was really felt,” Ellis-Yolmen said.

“He lifts us boys up and he’s the skipper for a reason so he definitely showed why he’s our captain.”

Walker also worked hard up the ground, marking on the wing which led directly to goals to Bryce Gibbs and Rory Sloane.

“I thought he set the tone with his physicality early, he cleaned someone up and when he does that, blokes thrive off that and I think he feeds off that too,” Greenwood said.

“His goal towards the end of the game steadied the ship and Sloaney after that, but he set the tone early and I thought he was awesome.”

The Crows had light training and meetings on Monday ahead of their clash with St Kilda this Saturday night.