by Peter Argent
Fresh from a week’s break, Taylor Walker kicked three important goals in Adelaide’s impressive win in the high-touted clash win against contenders, Brisbane to complete round 11 on Sunday evening.
Following two clutch goals from Walker, kicking towards the Torrens River end of Adelaide Oval in the second term, the Crows led by 11 points at half time, going on to defeat the inaccurate Lions, 14.11 (95) to 10.18 (78) by a 17-point margin.
Walker, playing game number 248 in a career that started back in 2009, finished with just nine touches, but a third major 17 minutes into the final stanza clinched a memorable victory.
Adelaide put on a show, as this exciting young group finished Brisbane’s seven-win streak and returned to the top eight.
Walker’s first goal came at the six-minute mark of the second term, receiving a handball from Izak Rankine in the Victor Richardson gates pocket, with the pair celebrating joyously.
The second 10 minutes in gave the Crows back the lead, which they didn’t relinquish for the remainder of the contest.
“I felt we showed resilience and grit in this game,” Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks said in the post-match media conference.
“After a disappointing game last week, some of the work the group did around just hanging in when it counted was pleasing as a coach. When we had momentum we were able to convert, showed real composure and polish that in the end gave us the win.
“We came out and kicked the first four goals of last quarter which sealed the result. We had a conversation at half time what was needed to get it done, that was a strong surging game.
“We all know that ‘Tex’ [Taylor Walker] can find the goals.”
Adelaide have a big game at TIO stadium against the Gold Coast Suns in Darwin this weekend, before Walker is scheduled to join the 250 AFL-game club against West Coast on the Saturday of the June long-weekend.
