Taylor Walker to captain for a fourth season as Adelaide Crows reveal leadership quartet

TAYLOR Walker will continue to captain the Adelaide Football Club for a fourth season as part of a streamlined four-man leadership group.

Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane will once again lead the Adelaide Crows again as captain and vice-captain this season. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

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TAYLOR Walker will continue to captain the Adelaide Football Club for a fourth season as part of a streamlined four-man leadership group.

The Crows ended uncertainty about the captaincy on Wednesday by announcing Walker — who was rated by his AFL peers as the league’s best skipper in 2016 and 2017 — would remain skipper with Rory Sloane as his vice-captain.

Tom Lynch, who captained the Crows in the JLT Series game against Fremantle on Sunday, and reigning club champion Matt Crouch round out the four-man 2018 leadership group.

Crouch, 22, is the new face in the group.

Senior coach Don Pyke said in a statement the group was voted on by the players and endorsed by key management at the club.

He described the quartet as quality young men both on and off the field.

“All members of our leadership group were recognised for their ability to live our values and behaviours, drive standards and maintain a consistent level of performance, both on and off the field,” Pyke said.

“Taylor, Rory and Tom set a great example last season and have taken it to a new level with their engagement and leadership this pre-season.

“Matt is the youngest member of the group and his elevation reinforces the progress he has made in the past couple of years and allows us to build one of our younger leaders.”

The leadership group will be supported by a number of smaller groups who will take responsibility for different portfolios across the football program.

Walker, who is racing to be fit for Round 1 after a preseason plantar fascia strain, said in a statement he was excited to lead the club for a fourth season.

“I enjoy the responsibility of being captain. I have a lot of faith in this playing group and look forward to seeing what we can achieve this season,” he said.