Crows captain Taylor Walker says his team starts new season without scars from AFL grand final defeat

TAYLOR Walker has avoided watching the AFL grand final in full, but he and his team-mates have confronted all the issues that came from the 48-point loss to Richmond at the MCG in September.

Crows captain Taylor Walker expects to be better prepared for an AFL grand final if Adelaide rebounds from last year’s 48-point loss to Richmond — and he expects the lessons from that defeat to inspire rather than scar the Crows in their mission to be back at the MCG this September. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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CROWS captain Taylor Walker has not re-watched last year’s AFL grand final collapse beyond three quarter-time.

But the key forward and his Adelaide team-mates and coaches have not avoided a full review of all that happened before, during and after the 48-point loss to Richmond to ensure the Crows can return without scars to the MCG for this year’s premiership play-off.

“Our strength as a playing group is how we sat down and spoke about (the loss) like men,” Walker says in an exclusive interview with The Advertiser previewing AFL Season 2018.

“We’ve not been little boys who have swept it under the carpet. If you think of it as a flu, we’ve blown the gunk off our chest … and we’re breathing easier.

“We’re a lot more determined to get better and get (to the grand final) again — and to change the result,” adds Walker in the interview for The Advertiser’s annual season guide to be published next month.

Taylor Walker training at Thebarton Oval before Christmas. He says lessons have been learned from last year’s grand final. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Adelaide’s response is one of the major questions on how AFL Season 2018 will unfold as history notes only two teams — Hawthorn in 2013 and Geelong in 2009 — have rebounded from grand final defeat to the premiership in the past decade.

But the pundits who have doubts on the Crows’ strength to deal with the grand final defeat will be challenged by Walker.

“Our attitude is to get better — and to get there (to the grand final) again ... and change the result,” Walker said.

“Everyone is different on how they have taken the loss.

“But everyone has returned to the football club determined to get better.”

The lessons from last year’s grand final — particularly the lead-up to the most-demanding week on the AFL calendar — are not to be wasted by the Crows, adds Walker.

“We’ve learned a fair bit,” Walker said. “Personally, I was relatively nervous going into the game.

“I enjoyed (the week) too much. Staying focused (on the game) is a challenge. I would change some of my actions (next time).”

Walker’s determination in Season 2018 is to be more noted for his on-field performances than his captaincy after being rated by his peers as the league’s best skipper in 2016 and 2017. But that task will not unfold in the AFL pre-season that starts for Adelaide on Sunday at Strathalbyn as Walker deals with a left-foot injury.

Walker strained his plantar fascia, the ligament which spans the arch of the foot from heel to ball.

“Time will take care of it,” said Walker, who remains confident of returning to the field for Adelaide’s Friday Night season-opener against Essendon on the unforgiving deck at Etihad Stadium on March 23.

“We rushed it (the return to pre-season training) last time. Now we’ll get it fixed.”

Taylor Walker at the Crows season launch at West Lakes. Picture: Tom Huntley

Adelaide's Taylor Walker tussles with Richmond's Alex Rance during last year’s grand final at the MCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Walker is not concerned about his preparation — in particular his match fitness — leading into his 10th AFL season.

“The fitness guys here know what I need to do for Round 1,” said Walker, who has nursed the left foot in a moon boot to aid the recovery.

“My conditioning is still there by doing other things off the training track, like swimming and boxing.

“I’d like to think I’ve also built up a strong base across time.”

Adelaide opens the two-game JLT Community pre-season series against Fremantle on Sunday and closes against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday, March 10.

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