AFL Round 16 Adelaide v Brisbane: Taylor Walker return on hold until further tests after Lions claim win
An early injury to Taylor Walker against the Lions gave Adelaide a look into the future. Just how important is the ex-captain and is any Crow ready to take over his mantle?
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Adelaide has had two glimpses this year of what its forward line looks like without Taylor Walker.
More than anything, it has highlighted the importance of the former captain and how the Crows’ attack is still very much a work in progress.
The first time was when the 31-year-old was managed for the club’s Round 9 trip to face West Coast and the latest was on Saturday, after he was substituted at halftime against Brisbane due to a neck injury.
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In Perth, Shane McAdam (three) and Darcy Fogarty (one) booted four of Adelaide’s 11 goals during a 30-point defeat to the Eagles.
Both were dropped for the Lions clash – McAdam for the second time this season, while Fogarty returned to the reserves after playing the first three games there.
In Walker’s absence on Saturday, the tall targets were Riley Thilthorpe and Billy Frampton — and intercept defender Tom Doedee made a last-quarter cameo in the 52-point loss.
James Rowe, Sam Berry, Ned McHenry and Luke Pedlar were among the smaller forwards, along with resting midfielders.
Thilthorpe, Rowe, Berry and Pedlar are in their debut seasons.
Pedlar, who was handed his guernsey by fellow tough nut and inaugural Adelaide captain Chris McDermott, was playing his first match.
Between them Thilthorpe (10), Frampton (14), Rowe (15), Berry (13), McHenry (22) and Pedlar (one) have lined up in just 75 games.
They are inexperienced to say the least and combined they have booted a mere 54 goals at AFL level.
Not only is Walker clearly Adelaide’s longest-serving forward with 217 matches, he has kicked 41 majors this season, the second-most in the league.
He also holds the club goals record with 481.
Premiership contender Brisbane boasted more class and experience in attack with the likes of Charlie Cameron (142 games), Daniel McStay (131), Joe Daniher (123), Eric Hipwood (109) and Lincoln McCarthy (85).
“There’s no doubt it (Walker going off) impacts us because it allowed them to change their match-ups – (Marcus) Adams came across and went to Frampton,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said post-game on Saturday.
“You also take out experience that Tex has.
“When you talk about how many games we had forward of the ball compared to Brissy, who were very good forward of the ball … they’ve got an experienced forward line.”
With Walker subbed out, Adelaide was unable to apply scoreboard pressure – something Nicks rued.
His 15th-placed side kicked 4.7 after halftime compared to Brisbane’s 12.3.
“They were outstanding the way they finished,” Nicks said of the Lions.
Some Crows fans and football observers called on the club to play Walker sparingly in 2021, wanting to see an attack of Thilthorpe, Fogarty and Elliott Himmelberg.
Even if that was a consideration at West Lakes, Walker’s All-Australian form stopped it from happening.
Let alone the experience and leadership the two-time AFL Players Association best captain offers.
The problem is Adelaide does not look to be sure who to surround him with each week.
Particularly since small forward Lachlan Murphy (ankle) and veteran Tom Lynch (toe) have missed the bulk of the campaign through injury.
The club’s highest ever selection, 2020 pick No. 2 Thilthorpe, is both a key piece for the future and commanding a spot now.
He has kicked 17 goals, including five on debut, and shown footy IQ beyond his 18 years.
Frampton looks a step above SANFL level, where he is averaging three goals and 3.4 contested marks this season, but not consistent enough for the next tier.
Coming off a strong pre-season, the ex-Port Adelaide forward has booted 2.9 and averages 3.8 total marks in 2021, going long periods in games without having an influence.
His only statistic to quarter-time on Saturday was a tackle.
Rowe has maintained his spot all season, offering much-needed small forward craft as a mature-age recruit.
Berry (pick 28 last year) and Pedlar (11) are midfielders starting their AFL careers as forwards whose attack on the ball represents what Nicks wants in his team’s “DNA”.
McHenry, taken 16th overall in 2018, has taken strides this season to feature in all bar one game – due to injury.
On Saturday, the pocket rocket laid a career-high nine tackles and also had two score assists.
No doubt McAdam, Fogarty and Himmelberg will get other opportunities.
McAdam is second for goals at the Crows this year with 20 but his form has been patchy.
He has been scoreless – not just goalless – in two of his past four matches.
In one of those games, against Richmond, he recorded three disposals.
Fogarty looked to have turned a corner when he came into the side in Round 4, only to be omitted last week.
According to Nicks, the 21-year-old needs to improve his aerial contest work.
Fogarty has kicked 15 goals from 11 games and added midfield minutes to his kit, yet he averages 2.27 marks and 0.82 tackles.
Like McAdam, Fogarty signed a two-year contract extension earlier this season.
Himmelberg inked a two-year deal at the end of 2020 but been largely overlooked since.
He has played three matches this season, from rounds 6 to 8, and is having to push his case through the SANFL.
“If you look at our forwards, we’ve got a really even, balanced group who are playing great footy across the board,” Nicks said this week.
“When you look at our squad and when you look at the way we’re performing, it’s not necessarily all about what the player at AFL level’s doing wrong, sometimes it is what you’re getting below.”
If Walker misses next week’s away clash with Essendon, Fogarty (17 disposals, one goal against ladder-leading Glenelg on Saturday) seems the likely replacement.
McAdam (six touches) and Himmelberg (13) were goalless against the Tigers.
Lynch (17 possessions, three goals) and Murphy (20 disposals) could soon come into the AFL frame after making their returns from injury via the SANFL the past two weeks.
Adelaide could use Lynch’s experience from 185 matches and Murphy’s forward pressure.
“He’s obviously a class player, very good in front of goal and probably would’ve been nice today to have that finish,” Nicks said of Lynch.
They also should also look to recruit a classy small forward at season’s end.
One who helps improve the Crows’ front-half polish and kicks goals.
But the most crucial cog of the attack remains Walker.
He has proven that all season, despite coming into it with plenty of doubters outside of West Lakes and turning 31 on Anzac Day.
Last week the Crows rewarded his career rejuvenation by re-signing him for another season.
Adelaide is not ready to be without him but it may get another taste of it against the Bombers.
HANDBRAKE ON TEX RETURN AFTER CONFRONTING HIT
Adelaide talisman Taylor Walker’s chances of facing Essendon will be known over the next few days after the star forward hurt his neck against Brisbane.
Walker hurt his neck while lunging and making contact with Brisbane defender Daniel Rich midway through the second term of Adelaide’s 52-point loss to the Lions at home on Saturday
The former captain of the club remained on the turf for a minute or so before slowly leaving the field.
He was substituted at halftime but was able to walk around during the second half on the boundary.
Adelaide head of player health and performance rehabilitation Tim Parham said Walker was cleared of concussion and any serious injury.
“He underwent a head injury assessment and was cleared of concussion but had neck stiffness and was subbed out of the game,” he said.
“Pleasingly he was up and walking around post-game but will be assessed in coming days with a view to determining the appropriate course of management and his availability for next week’s game against Essendon.”
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said he feared Walker had suffered a bad injury.
“He got quite a substantial knock to his neck and we were extremely concerned early but he’s been cleared, no concussion,” Nicks said post-game.
“It (initially) looked like maybe he’d broken his arm or shoulder or possibly something along those lines.
“Now we’ve got to work through how his neck comes back.”
Walker had booted 40 goals from 13 games going into the round and signed a one-year contract extension this week.
Why Crows coach was ‘extremely concerned’ for Tex
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says the club was initially extremely concerned when Taylor Walker went down but the star forward had been cleared of serious injury and was now “just a bit stiff and sore”.
Walker sustained a neck strain while lunging and making contact with Brisbane defender Daniel Rich midway through the second term of the Crows’ 52-point home loss on Saturday, then was substituted off at halftime.
The former captain was in noticeable pain, remaining on the turf for a minute or so before slowly leaving the field.
Nicks said Walker could not move his neck after the incident and the club needed to see how he recovered before deciding if he needed scans.
“He got quite a substantial knock to his neck and we were extremely concerned early but he’s been cleared, no concussion,” Nicks said post-game.
“It (initially) looked like maybe he’d broken his arm or shoulder or possibly something along those lines.
“Now we’ve got to work through how his neck comes back.
“He’s OK, just a bit stiff and sore.
“It’ll be one they (doctors) will probably let settle overnight.
“I’m sure he’ll have some anti-inflamms and drugs to help him sleep through the night.”
Walker registered six disposals and one goal while also impressing with his forward ruckwork.
Adelaide trailed the Lions by three points when he came off the field.
Walker has played all bar one game this season, being managed in Round 9.
“It was a scary looking incident, hopefully he’s OK,” Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson said.
Walker had booted 40 goals from 13 games going into the round and signed a one-year contract extension this week.
He was replaced by medical substitute Jackson Hately.
It was better news for the Lions, who had a scare just before halftime when star backman Harris Andrews had to be helped off the ground by trainers due to a leg injury, only for him to return to the field for the second half.
Andrews’s knee was trapped momentarily under Billy Frampton after the Crows forward fell backwards in a marking contest.
But Lions coach Chris Fagan said post-game he was worried when Andrews went down because “it didn’t look too good” and glad he was OK.
“I think he got spooked by it more than anything – it was a bit of a cracking noise,”
“Structurally he’s fine.
“He might be a bit sore and might have jarred his knee, potentially, but he was able to get back out there in the second half, which was pleasing.”
Andrews played out the match, finishing with 16 disposals and three marks.
Brisbane backman Brandon Starcevich landed face-first after leaping in a contest during the last quarter but he was able to pass a concussion test and come back on the field.
LIONS KICK AWAY
Brisbane has overcome the pre-game loss of Lachie Neale and a spirited effort from Adelaide to tighten their grip on a top-four spot with a late blitz sealing a 52-point victory.
With Neale ruled out with a calf injury on Saturday morning, the Lions struggled to shake the determined Crows before breaking the game open with a six-goals-to-three third quarter that set up the 17.9 (111) to 8.11 (59) win at Adelaide Oval.
Brisbane spread the load well in the absence of the Brownlow Medallist, with former Crow Jarryd Lyons pivotal in bringing his old side undone in his 150th game.
Mitch Robinson was his usual combative self, Lincoln McCarthy booted four goals and Zac Bailey showed why many regard him a superstar in the making with a career-high 15 contested possessions and three goals.
The Crows, who lost Taylor Walker to injury before halftime, can feel aggrieved by the size of the final margin that doesn’t accurately reflect how hard they made their well-credentialed opponents work for their 11th win of the season.
Rory Laird and Ben Keays were never far from the action and Paul Seedsman was damaging with two goals off a wing.
BRAKES ON
A week after the Lions played some scintillating, free-flowing footy in a 44-point win over top-four rival Geelong, Chris Fagan’s side struggled to release the handbrake applied by a dogged Crows outfit in the first half.
Adelaide was on the wrong side of a 21-9 inside 50 count in the first quarter, but the home side did well to deny their opponents clean entries into attack to go into the first break just nine points down.
LIONS LAUNCH
McCarthy helped spur the Lions with two goals in the third quarter. Dayne Zorko had a quiet night with just two disposals to halftime, but the skipper made it a 24-point game at three-quarter time with his second goal.
The visitors’ premiership credentials were on display in a clinical final term. Having absorbed Adelaide’s best, the Lions added a nice percentage boost with a six-goals-to-one final flourish.
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 2.1 4.4 7.7 8.11 (59)
lost to
BRISBANE 3.4 5.6 11.7 17.9 (111)
GOALS
Crows: Seedsman 2, McKay, Schoenberg, Sloane, Thilthorpe, Walker, Doedee.
Lions: McCarthy 4, Bailey 3, Cameron 3, Daniher 2, Zorko 2, McStay 2, McCluggage.
JASON PHELAN’S BEST
Crows: Laird, Keays, Seedsman, O’Brien, Sholl, Butts.
Lions: Lyons, Adams, Bailey, Robinson, McCarthy, McCluggage.
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 — J. Lyons (Bris)
2 — M. Adams (Bris)
1 — R. Laird (Adel)
INJURIES
Crows: Walker (neck strain).
Lions: Neale (calf, late withdrawal).
Umpires: Fisher, Gavine, Fleer
Venue: Adelaide Oval
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