Taylor Walker (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Taylor Walker is an Australian rules football
er for Adelaide in the Australian Football League
.
.
in the SANFL
. Walker kicked 56 goals in his first year of professional league football, in the second tier SANFL, including kicking seven goals in an elimination final victory over rivals Port Adelaide. Walker made his AFL debut against Collingwood
in round 1 of his second season, in 2009. He instantly impressed, showing signs of forming a lethal forward combination with fellow Adelaide young forward, Kurt Tippett
. He received the NAB Rising Star nomination, following a 5 goal performance, in a win against Hawthorn
in Round 10, but was dropped from the senior side later in the season, on the back of a few poor performance, where his defensive pressure was judged not to be good enough to retain his position in the side. Walker regained his spot in the side several weeks later after impressing in the local league but was again dropped.
Walker returned to the side in 2010 and showed fluctuating form, showing glimpses of brilliance along with some terrible form, he was again dropped from the side on a number of occasions throughout the year, sparking rumours that he and head coach Neil Craig were not seeing eye to eye and that Craig was using Walker as a 'scapegoat' for Adelaide's poor form throughout the year.
In 2011, Walker was again dropped for two weeks after showing poor form and was seen drinking a beer on live television at a SANFL game, sparking speculation that he 'didn't care' and may have signed a contract with Greater Western Sydney, the eighteenth side who will enter the AFL competition in 2012, with whom Walker had been previously strongly linked. Walker made a return to the side, only to injure his knee in his first game back, sidelining him for several weeks.
Walker's contract with the Adelaide Crows ends at the conclusion of the 2011 season and Walker and his management have put off contract talks with the club until the seasons end, fueling more speculation that Walker plans on walking out on the club, or may have already signed and could already be contracted to the GWS from season 2012. However, Walker stated that he plans to stay at Adelaide and has no intentions of leaving the club.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for Adelaide in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Early career
Walker accepted a NSW Scholarship contract in 2006 with Adelaide, when 16 years of age. However, Walker continued to play for his senior local amateur league team, North Broken Hill, in the Broken Hill Football League, leading them to the 2007 Premiership with a seven goal, best on ground performance, playing at centre half forward. Walker attended Willyama High School in Broken HillBroken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
.
AFL career
In 2008, after being drafted to the Adelaide's senior list, he began to play for NorwoodNorwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
. Walker kicked 56 goals in his first year of professional league football, in the second tier SANFL, including kicking seven goals in an elimination final victory over rivals Port Adelaide. Walker made his AFL debut against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in round 1 of his second season, in 2009. He instantly impressed, showing signs of forming a lethal forward combination with fellow Adelaide young forward, Kurt Tippett
Kurt Tippett
Kurt Tippett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He currently plays for the Adelaide Crows and wears the number 4 on the back of his jumper. He has represented his state at under 18 level in basketball before converting to Australian rules football and playing for...
. He received the NAB Rising Star nomination, following a 5 goal performance, in a win against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in Round 10, but was dropped from the senior side later in the season, on the back of a few poor performance, where his defensive pressure was judged not to be good enough to retain his position in the side. Walker regained his spot in the side several weeks later after impressing in the local league but was again dropped.
Walker returned to the side in 2010 and showed fluctuating form, showing glimpses of brilliance along with some terrible form, he was again dropped from the side on a number of occasions throughout the year, sparking rumours that he and head coach Neil Craig were not seeing eye to eye and that Craig was using Walker as a 'scapegoat' for Adelaide's poor form throughout the year.
In 2011, Walker was again dropped for two weeks after showing poor form and was seen drinking a beer on live television at a SANFL game, sparking speculation that he 'didn't care' and may have signed a contract with Greater Western Sydney, the eighteenth side who will enter the AFL competition in 2012, with whom Walker had been previously strongly linked. Walker made a return to the side, only to injure his knee in his first game back, sidelining him for several weeks.
Walker's contract with the Adelaide Crows ends at the conclusion of the 2011 season and Walker and his management have put off contract talks with the club until the seasons end, fueling more speculation that Walker plans on walking out on the club, or may have already signed and could already be contracted to the GWS from season 2012. However, Walker stated that he plans to stay at Adelaide and has no intentions of leaving the club.