Crows co-captain Taylor Walker accepts criticism for appearing to shirk the contest with West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn

Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker has revealed what was going through his head when he appeared to shirk a contest with West Coast captain Shannon Hurn and what he would do next time in a similar situation.

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Adelaide co-captain Taylor Walker has accepted criticism for appearing to shirk a ground ball contest with West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn during his side’s loss to the Eagles.

And the Crows spearhead vowed to do things differently and set a better example for his teammates should a similar situation arise in the future.

Walker had come under question for seeming to avoid incoming body contact with Hurn as the ball spilt loose during the second quarter of Adelaide’s two-goal defeat on Saturday.

The key forward regretted his decision-making in the incident, but said he was not trying to avoid giving away a free kick or being reported.

“If I had my time again, I’d do it a little bit better,” Walker told Triple M on Tuesday morning.

“You look at the vision and it’s not good to watch.

“But for me, I tried to spin out of the (contest) because I saw Hurn coming.

“But I stood up too quickly and it looks pretty ordinary.

Adelaide captain Taylor Walker tackles West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn during the Crows’ loss at Adelaide Oval. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

“As skipper, I wouldn’t want any of my players to do it and it’s an example that I don’t want to set for my teammates.

“I’ve just got to take the ball and stay lower for longer, as simple as it is.

“I put my hand up, that’s the way footy goes.

“I’ll put myself in that opportunity again and do it better.”

Walker was held goalless against West Coast, as the Crows coughed up a 33-point lead early in the third quarter to slip to seventh on the ladder with a 5-5 record.

The 29-year-old said his side had struggled to contain the influence of Eagles’ midfielder Luke Shuey on its way to conceding 10 of the last 12 majors in the match.

“We probably lost some critical contests, they got on top through the midfield and we weren’t able to sustain our pressure,” said Walker, who remained stuck on 399 goals for the club.

Taylor Walker was held goalless as Adelaide slumped to a 12-point loss to West Coast. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“If you don’t do those things, then you’re in a bit of strife.

“To their (Eagles’) credit, they came out and played some pretty good footy in the third and were in the arm wrestle towards the end of that quarter.

“We wrestled it back and were still in front at three-quarter time and we weren’t able to go and play brave footy.

“I thought we played a little bit reactive in the last quarter.”

Walker said Tom Lynch (hamstring), Matt Crouch (hip/abdominal) and Sam Jacobs (knee) were all chances to return for Saturday’s clash with 16th-placed Melbourne.

He said the match, which would be played at Marrara Oval in Darwin, was a chance to rediscover form following back-to-back defeats.

“I reckon it’ll be a little bit slippery at night.

“But I’m looking forward to it (and) a bit of warm weather.”