Taylor Walker’s harshest critic Dermott Brereton praises the Crows skipper for his performance against West Coast

CROWS captain Taylor Walker’s harshest critic - Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton - has heaped praise on the key forward for his game-winning performance against West Coast on Saturday night.

Thomas Cole of the Eagles tackles Taylor Walker of the Adelaide Crows.

CROWS captain Taylor Walker’s harshest critic - Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton - has heaped praise on the key forward for his game-winning performance against West Coast on Saturday night.

Brereton admits he’s been “critical” of Walker for the best part of two years but said his three-goals, strong marking and presence to keep his team’s season alive on the weekend had to be recognised.

Brereton’s comments come as All-Australian midfielder Matt Crouch says the team lifts on the skipper’s shoulders and Walker’s honest and steadying influence had been huge on his growth as a player and leader.

Playing his third game back from injury on Saturday night, Walker was getting to the right spots around the ball but missed two straightforward shots on goal, however kept at it.

His goal off the ground in the square just before three-quarter-time gave his side some belief and the two in the final term - one from 55m and the other from a pack mark inside 50m - turned the game on its head.

“I thought his last 40 minutes were just superb, he attacked the footy, he was a little bit smarmy towards the opposition - he was a bit lippy and giving it to them - he was big and full of bravado but then he got the job done by aerial skills and by foot,” Brereton said on Fox Footy.

“That was a fantastic mark that stamps himself on the game.”

Last year Brereton was critical of Walker’s ability to crash packs and launch himself at the footy like a key forward should then in April this year the five-time premiership player labelled his effort as “dreadful” in Adelaide’s big loss to Collingwood.

But he said Walker’s persistence to drag his side back in the game from 27 points down against the Eagles was enormous.

Walker flies over the pack to take a mark in the final quarter. Picture: MARK BRAKE

“The first half he was flying at marks and doing the one-handed thing, and in the third quarter it still wasn’t turning his way, he got a couple of nice easy kicks and that boosted his confidence,” Brereton said.

“He hung in there and he got one off the ground and kept his team alive, it wasn’t great play, it was just hard, grinding work.

“Then in the final quarter he launches at the footy and the team followed in behind.

“Kyle Cheney took a hanger and then Taylor Walker took a grab. The ball is on the wing and two marks later it goes through for a goal.”

Crouch, who is in Adelaide’s four-man leadership group along with Walker, Sloane and Tom Lynch, said Walker had been a positive influence on him on and off the field.

“He’s been really good, he’s a leader who leads by example and when he does that everyone follows,” Crouch said on Saturday night.

“He’s helped me a lot, he’s always very honest and has been really good for me.”

Injury has kept Walker to just nine games this season but he also stood up with four crucial goals in Adelaide’s Round 2 win over Richmond - the Crows’ opponent again this Friday night at the MCG.

Hugh Greenwood celebrates a goal with the captain. Picture: Daniel Kalisz (Getty).

Walker said he was “super proud” of his team’s ability to fight back from 27 points down and praised the efforts of his teammates including Tom Doedee’s chase down tackle on Brendon Ah Chee and goal from the boundary in the final quarter.

“It’s great for Tommy to get his first goal and guys individually across the game played some really good footy, Tals did a great job down back, Lairdy came back and played his role, it was great to have Sloaney back and Sauce in the ruck was outstanding,” Walker said.

“We had all the boys play their role and it was a weight of numbers to get us through.”