The Adelaide Crows have announced forward Taylor Walker as the club’s new captain for 2015.
Walker replaces the dumped Nathan van Berlo, who missed all of last season with an Achilles injury.
New coach Phil Walsh made the curious decision to select Walker, who kicked 34 goals last year in a comeback season following a 2013 ACL injury, for the captaincy ahead of midfield stars Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane, making the 24-year-old the seventh, and youngest, team captain in club history.
“Taylor is a quality young man and footballer,” Walsh said.
“I have said before that he thinks not what is best for himself, but what is best for the team.
“When he speaks or acts, others listen and follow suit, which is a special quality.”
Free-agent-to-be Dangerfield will be out of contract with the Crows at the end of the 2015 season, but remains an integral part of the team according to the coach.
“They [Dangerfield and Sloane] will be important members of this footy club like the other 43 players sitting in this room – that’s where it leaves them,” he said. “It is their job to play the best footy they possibly can.”
Walker’s 2012 season saw the 192cm boot 63 goals while helping take the Crows to within a kick of a Grand Final appearance. He went down with a season-ending knee injury early the following year, but rebounded in 2014 by collecting a career-high 14.7 disposals per game in 15 contests, all after round 9.
“I am honoured to be given this opportunity and like everyone at our Club, want to build on the hard working culture and approach,” he said.
“There are many people I must thank for guiding me along the way, among them Nathan van Berlo and Simon Goodwin who are outstanding leaders.”
Walker re-upped with Crows in November last year, inking an extension for a further three-seasons.
Photo: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images.
