Kane Cornes comments on ‘confronting’ Taylor Walker speculation

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has jumped to the defence of Taylor Walker after growing speculation the AFL veteran would be dropped.

Kane Cornes and Taylor Walker.

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has softened his harsh stance on Adelaide Crows veteran Taylor Walker after the pair’s ongoing feud escalated this season.

Following Adelaide’s historic loss to the Gold Coast Suns, there were calls for the club’s star forward to be axed. Walker has struggled to have an impact after three rounds this season, averaging five kicks, one mark and one goal per game.

On Monday, Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks bluntly told 3AW: “Tex at this point in time is struggling to get that job done forward of the ball.”

The Crows have suffered three consecutive defeats to start the 2020 premiership, and currently sit in bottom spot on the AFL ladder.

Despite speculation the former Adelaide captain would be dropped, the club revealed Walker would start this weekend’s clash against the Brisbane Lions on the bench.

Following the Crows’ horrific loss to Port Adelaide in round two, Cornes took another shot in his long-running feud with Walker, questioning the forward’s fitness.

But Cornes has come to Walker’s defence this week, admitting it is “confronting” for the forward to face the axe two weeks after the coronavirus lockdown.

Kane Cornes played 300 AFL games for Port Adelaide.

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“It’s tough and confronting for a player of Walker’s calibre to be facing the axe only three rounds into an already challenging season,” Cornes wrote in The Advertiser.

“For all of Walker’s detractors, he has as many admirers, particularly among the army of passionate Adelaide fans. Tex generates a buzz inside a packed Adelaide Oval whenever he goes near the ball.

“For a proud footballer such as Walker, it’s hard not to feel embarrassment when you don’t perform to the level you expect of yourself.

“He isn’t the only Adelaide player out of form. His key forward partner Darcy Fogarty is averaging a very concerning six disposals, three marks and one goal per game this season.”

Adelaide assistant coach Mick Godden echoed Cornes’ comments on Friday, arguing many of the team’s experienced players have been underperforming.

“We’ve got some players in there that are young and fresh and new, and that’s really exciting,” Godden told SEN SA Breakfast.

“But we also have a good core group, and we certainly don’t have a list that we shouldn’t be playing better.

“The reality is those guys aren’t playing to the level that we require and need.”

Taylor Walker has scored 426 goals for the Adelaide Crows since his AFL debut in 2009.

Godden emphasised Walker would be the first to admit he has not met the club’s expectations so far this season.

“He’s not impacted the game like he would like. He’s been a great player for our footy club, but right now he’s just struggling to impact,” Godden said.

“Criticism is difficult and never fair because you know the individual is always trying the hardest he can, but right now his performances aren’t quite at the level.

“He’s a very proud man, and he’s trained really well this week, and we’ll see how we go today.”

Nicks explained the reasoning behind the decision to stick with Walker, who he descibed as a “warrior”.

“We’re not hiding from the fact our form is not good enough,” Nick said.

“(Walker) is a really important leader for us so he’s going to be under scrutiny, we understand that.

“We wanted to back him in, but we’re not going to hide from the fact that we had conversations earlier in the week about how we can help him, how the team can help him.

“Like a lot of our players, we’re looking for some form. We’re looking to find our mojo.

“Tex is one of those ... and I know he will fight back. He’s a warrior.”

The Crows will give an AFL debut to 25-year-old forward Shane McAdam while Nicks signalled a reshuffle in his misfiring midfield.

“Our midfield is going to look substantially different,” Nicks said.

“We will look a little younger around the footy, we will have a different mix of players there ... we want to get that intensity in and around there and really compete.”

Adelaide will take on the Lions — who are coming off two consecutive victories — at 1:05pm AEDT on Sunday.

— With AAP

Originally published as Kane Cornes comments on ‘confronting’ Taylor Walker speculation