Hall of Famer Kevin Bartlett says AFL match review panel will need to assess Adelaide Crows captain Taylor Walker’s ’intent’ in post incident

THE AFL match review panel must divine Crows captain Taylor Walker’s intent as it seeks to adjudicate on the push that sent Bulldog Jason Johannisen into a post, says Hall of Famer Kevin Bartlett.

JUDGMENT DAY. Crows captain Taylor Walker checks on Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen after pushing him into a goalpost. Picture: Sarah Reed

CROWS captain Taylor Walker’s moment of destiny with the AFL judiciary on Monday will hinge on the match review panel’s reading his “intent” in his contentious goalpost incident with Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen.

This is the view of Hall of Famer Kevin Bartlett, who has believes the key forward’s action was “incidental” not intentional at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

“(But) if (the match review panel) felt it was a deliberate shove into the goalpost, he is in trouble,” Barlett said on radio SEN on Monday.

Bartlett concedes the public review of the incident has “polarised” fans — and the umpires should have penalised Walker as he pushed Johannisen out of the line of Crows midfielder Matt Crouch’s successful kick to the northern goal at Adelaide Oval.

“Walker gave (Johannisen) a nudge, but I would not say it is intentional — more like incidental contact,” Bartlett said.

Walker appears at worst to be at risk of a fine rather than a suspension when the match review panel issues its verdicts from AFL House in Melbourne on Monday afternoon.

Teammate and Crows key forward Josh Jenkins has argued he would “struggle to see how that can be a suspension.”

Walker, who has apologised to Johannisen, insists his intent was to shepherd the Norm Smith Medallist from Crouch’s shot at goal.

“I had no intention of pushing him into the goalpost,” Walker told Fox Footy in the post-match coverage.

“I saw Matt Crouch kick the ball and he tried to pierce it through the goal. I didn’t want him (Johannisen) to touch it.

“I’ve got his best interests at heart, I went over to him straight away to check whether he was all right.”

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