AFL 2024: All the Adelaide Crows news in the fallout of the club’s fourth straight loss

Adelaide slumped to its fourth-straight loss against Melbourne on Thursday night – but star forward Taylor Walker has a message for frustrated Crows fans.

Adelaide star Taylor Walker believes the Crows aren’t “too far away” despite their winless start to the season continuing in Gather Round.

The Crows have slumped to a 0-4, following their loss to Melbourne on Thursday night, a far cry from the finals contenders many had predicted them to become in 2024.

The latest loss was a 16-point one at the hands of the Demons, with the Crows unable to take advantage of their tiring opponents.

The former club captain said while the Crows went down, he did see some green shoots.

“Obviously the result was disappointing but I think it was a step forward for us as a footy club,” he said.

“We haven’t started the year like we would have wanted to but the process that we played with on the weekend was better.

“So a step forward, albeit frustrating that we aren’t getting the result that we want.”

Taylor Walker and Max Gawn on Thursday night. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Much of the criticism on the Crows has been aimed at their lack of scoring and ball movement, which was a hallmark of theirs in 2023.

Walker said he was confident they could find them again.

“When you aren’t winning everyone gets put under the spotlight and comes under scrutiny,” he said.

“I think across the board as individuals and as a team we aren’t playing to the capacity we can.

“So we understand how frustrating it is to everyone who is watching but I don’t think we are too far away.”

Just one team since 1975 has made finals after starting the season 0-4.

But Walker said the Crows needed to keep believing.

“We are only four rounds in, you have another 19 games. We understand that the processes we put in place will get the job done,” he said.

“So you just need to keep believing in that, it’s a long season and hopefully we can get a win next week.”

Crows skipper Jordan Dawson takes a strong mark on Demon Trent Rivers. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Walker missed Round 1 with a back issue, but said he was not hampered by it.

“It is good now, it has come a long way,” he said.

“There are no issues with it.”

Walker also said he was hopeful fellow former captain Rory Sloane could return to footy soon as he weighs up a comeback after his eye surgery earlier this year.

Sloane has returned to contact training and has been trialling goggles after the second detached retina, and sixth eye injury of his career.

“It would be good for the footy club, obviously he has a decision to make whether he wants to play on or not,” he said.

“Hopefully he does and we can get him back.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: All the Adelaide Crows news in the fallout of the club’s fourth straight loss