'Filthy language': Taylor Walker's manager in alleged run-in with fan

The manager of former Adelaide Crows skipper Taylor Walker was reportedly involved in a heated exchange of words with a fan as the key forward was heavily booed in his AFL return last weekend.

Walker rejoined the Crows for last weekend's loss to Essendon, kicking four goals as the Bombers crowd peppered him with abuse throughout the match.

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The 31-year-old had finished serving a six-week suspension handed down late last year after he was overhead directing a racial slur at a player while spectating a SANFL match last weekend.

The Crows were criticised by some AFL fans for the tone they took when announcing Walker's return, which did not reference why he had been absent for six weeks.

Nevertheless, Walker played through the heckles of the Essendon crowd but the abuse became so nasty at one point that his manager, Craig Kelly, became angry at the 'absolutely disgusting' language used by one spectator.

According to veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson, the incident prompted the AFL's integrity officer to ensure nothing untoward had occurred.

Wilson told Channel 9 that the AFL was satisfied Kelly hadn't done anything wrong, and that the supporter had 'provoked him' - leading to a wider discussion about the conduct of fans.

“I’m told the supporter was booing Taylor Walker and using some filthy language," Wilson reported on Monday night's episode of Footy Classified.

"Craig Kelly did say to this supporter, ‘Taylor Walker is not a racist.’

"But when I spoke to Craig this afternoon, he pointed out that some of the language this man was using was absolutely disgusting."

Wilson reported that fans seated nearby the patron in question had been left uncomfortable by his remarks as well.

"He was using this language around young kids, around women and men who didn’t want to hear it — and I must say I’ve been at the footy recently and some of the language is just disgusting.... just fascinating to how nasty and heated it did get from one particular supporter that Craig Kelly felt moved to get involved.”

Taylor Walker will be booed all season: Cornes

Fellow Footy Classified panellist Kane Cornes isn't expecting the disdain for Walker to ease up any time soon.

The former Port Adelaide premiership player suggested there were many AFL fans who hadn't forgotten that Walker had uttered 'one of the most vile things you can say to another human being' to deserve the ban in the first place.

While he agreed with Wilson that fans attending the footy ought to be mindful of their language and the people around them, booing Walker was not necessarily wrong in and of itself.

He made the comparison to Geelong champion Joel Selwood being booed by Collingwood fans when celebrating a recent milestone game.

“There’s a line — and Caro spoke about vile language in the crowd — and we all understand where that line is," Cornes said.

"But if you’re a paid up footy supporter, you’re allowed to boo. Collingwood booed Joel Selwood, people have been booing great players for different reasons for a long time, and I think he’ll continue to be booed.”

Walker was forbidden from participating in pre-season trial games as part of his suspension, which also saw hium undertake community work and an educational program about Indigenous culture.

The former captain is playing on this year after giving some consideration to hanging up the boots once the saga was dealt with, with Walker out of contract at season's end.

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