Veteran forward Taylor Walker re-signs with Adelaide for the 2025 AFL season

Taylor Walker is officially playing on in 2025 at the Crows. The star forward is eager to help Adelaide rise back up the ladder and finish his career a one-club player.

Matt Turner

@mattturner1986

less than 2 min read

August 28, 2024 - 4:36PM

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Taylor Walker has the chance to become just the fifth Crow to play 300 games after signing a new one-year contract.

Walker will enter next season on 278 matches as he closes in on a milestone that only four fellow club greats have reached.

The 34-year-old would join Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards, Mark Ricciuto and Ben Hart as 300-game players for Adelaide.

Walker’s extension was confirmed on Wednesday after weeks of speculation about his future.

Coming off his first All-Australian campaign and personal-best 76 goals in 2023, the veteran spearhead was hampered by a back issue this season.

Taylor Walker is staying at Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

He played 18 matches and kicked 29 majors, his lowest output since 2020.

Crows list manager Justin Reid said what Walker brought to the club on and off the field was immeasurable.

“The fact that his playing career is continuing well into his 30s speaks to his professionalism and the way he approaches his training and preparation,” Reid said.

“He drives high standards and makes his teammates better and we’re very pleased that will continue for another season.”

Walker is the Crows’ all-time leading goalkicker with 641 and sits equal-fifth at the club for games played.

He looms as an important mentor for Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe in 2025 after their improvement this year, as well as father-son prospect Tyler Welsh.

Walker wants to help the Crows get back to the top of the ladder before he retires. Picture: Getty Images

Fogarty booted a career-high 41 goals from 23 matches, Thilthorpe kicked 15 from seven games on his return from a knee injury and Welsh was expected to be drafted to the Crows.

Walker, a childhood Adelaide supporter who joined the club in 2007 and made his AFL debut in 2009, was determined to help it climb the ladder in 2025.

The Crows finished 15th this year.

“Being a one-club player means a lot to me and I still feel I have plenty to contribute to the team,” Walker said.

“I love working with our exciting young forward line and get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing them develop their own games.

“As a team, we didn’t get the results we wanted this year, but that only makes me more determined to continue working hard to get our club back to where it belongs.”