Taylor Walker’s elbow is sore, but he’ll be fine to play Carlton - if he survives imminent changes at the Crows’ selection table
Taylor Walker’s funny bone has pulled up OK after the Crows’ loss to Essendon – but there’s nothing funny about talk of him potentially being boned for the upcoming Carlton clash.
A fortnight ago in the wake of the 57-point Showdown loss, Crows captain Taylor Walker said every head in the Adelaide side was on the selectioin chopping block; his own included.
And now, in the wake of Friday night’s 21-point loss to Essendon, Crows assistant coach Ben Hart has echoed that sentiment: that no one in the side gets automatic selection to play Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.
With the Crows again left to dissect a poor second-half, speaking to media at the club’s West Lakes headquarters Hart was asked whether Walker’s stats and numbers warranted selection this weekend.
“He’s doing some really good things for us and he’s doing some things inconsistently at the moment and he’s not alone, so we’ll work through that through match committee,” Hart replied.
Then asked whether he could see Walker playing in the SANFL this year, Hart responded by saying: “It will be a discussion through match committee. He’s the captain of your club, we’ll back him in for what he can bring, he just needs to do it on a consistent level for us at the moment.
“If we believe that he can do that and we can see that in him then he’ll keep his spot.
“He just needs to get back to playing his really strong footy, which we know he’s got in him.
“He came at the ball really well at the weekend, didn’t finish his work well enough and he wasn’t alone in the second-half, mind you.”
There’s also the possibility, Hart admitted, that Walker’s form was indicative of the way the Crows were generally playing as a group.
“There’s also things we can do as a team and Taylor and every player on an individual level for the team whether you’re going well or not going well, moving the ball well or not moving the ball well,” Hart said.
“We’re looking at all of that and he, along with others, need to make sure he is consistent in that space.”
But Hart said Walker’s elbow - which he re-injured in the first quarter of Friday night’s loss - had pulled up fine, albeit sore.
“He’ll be OK to play (Carlton),” he said.
“He’s a bit sore, but he’ll be OK.”