Taylor Walker 'open to offers' as Adelaide Crows champion could be forced to leave AFL club
Walker is set to attract interest from rival AFL clubs as he seeks a new deal for 2025.
Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker could make a shock switch to a rival club in 2025 as the Crows look to shake things up after winning just one match from their last five outings. Adelaide are preparing to undergo a mid-season review and with extra pressure on the club's key stakeholders after their dismal 4-9-1 record after 14 rounds, a decision is set to be made on the club's direction moving forward.
Walker is one of a host of top talent in Adelaide who are yet to be offered a new deal. And journalist Damien Barrett believes the veteran - who kicked 76 goals for the Crows last year and was named in the All-Australian team - is likely to land elsewhere in 2025.
The Crows veteran has played close to 300 games and has been the club's leading goalkicker in a record six seasons. But come next season, the 34-year-old may no longer be in the red, yellow and blue.
While the club has smacked down talks of club leaders being on the chopping block, Adelaide is yet to hold any form of contract talks with Walker despite his contract coming to an end, "He does want to play in 2025, that is a given," Barrett said on Nine's Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
"He is yet to learn from his own club, that he's been at since 2007, if it's (a contract) going to be with the club he wants. That's a conversation to be had in the next six to eight weeks. If it doesn't go down the path he wants, I've got no doubt that he's open to offers from other clubs."
Taylor Walker not short of potential AFL suitors
While it is unclear what clubs could put their hand up for Walker's services for next season, Barrett believes with a shortage of quality forwards available, he will be highly sought after.
"Whether it is a Geelong, who may want to replace Tom Hawkins for the one year," Barrett said. "Whether it's North Melbourne that may realise Nick Larkey may need some support. Whether it's Collingwood if (Dan) McStay doesn't come back (from his ACL injury) and (Jamie) Elliott doesn't come back (from vascular injury).
"There's going to be options for him. It's unusual for a player of this calibre and (who is) so linked to his own club, that's going to potentially be on the market.
Jimmy Bartel says Taylor Walker still has plenty to offer
Jimmy Bartel is confident that Walker has plenty to offer any club who may look to bring him in. But the Geelong great believes if he was to leave Adelaide he wouldn't want to play as a key forward due to the high workload and his ageing body.
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"He does offer a lot of value. He can still kick the footy," Bartel said. "You'd want to go where he's not the key forward. At Melbourne, he'd probably be the key forward, which is a lot of work."
