Could it be Captain Tex? Walker in the frame to lead Crows
Phil Walsh says re-signed forward could be Crows' skipper in 2015
STAR Adelaide forward Taylor Walker is in the mix to become his club's captain next season, according to coach Phil Walsh.
Walker ignored the lure of free agency on Tuesday to sign a three-year deal, tying him to West Lakes until 2018.
While Walker admitted he was uncertain if celebrated teammates Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane would follow his lead and sign new deals, he appears to be in the mix for Adelaide's leadership.
The club is deep into the process of finalising a player-elected six-man leadership group for next season, from which Walsh will select one captain.
Walsh said the players' votes had made it clear that Walker was a highly respected member of the playing group.
He said the 24-year-old's decision to re-sign early and commit to Adelaide spoke volumes for his leadership capability.
"It says a fair bit about Tex's character…as coaches we see young men turn into leaders and that's what I think Tex has got ahead of him right now," Walsh said.
"He's 24, he's got his best footy in front of him but he's also a leader of men. I've seen it already. I've only been at the club a short time but he's an influential person.
"I had a quick look last night at the votes by the players and Taylor's highly regarded by his peers.
"When you've got one of the influential leaders of the footy club with those characteristics, what it does is create other people with those characteristics."
Walker is nearing the end of his first stint in the club's leadership group. While he was reluctant to comment on the possibility of captaining the club, he said he enjoyed the added responsibilities that leaders carried.
"I try and let my footy do the talking…I spent my first 12 months in the leadership group this year and I loved it," Walker said.
"You do look at footy a little bit differently [as a leader] to when you're just playing.
"You start to have influences on other people and try to drag a lot of people along with you."
Current captain, Nathan van Berlo, said on Monday that his reign would depend entirely on what was best for the Crows under Walsh, but admitted he was no certainty to remain skipper.
"I am going to do what is best for the footy club," van Berlo told reporters.
"We're very lucky as a footy club; we have got a number of leaders across our group.
"If it's in the best interests of the footy club that I am the man to do the job, then we'll talk about that down the track.
"But for now, for me personally and for the rest of the group, it's just about getting stuck into training and try to impress the new coach."
While Walker's medium-term future now lies with the Crows, Dangerfield and Sloane are still yet to re-sign.
The star pair fall out of contract next season and will attract an enormous level of interest from rival sides if they test the market.
Walker didn't know whether his decision to re-sign would influence others to do the same.
"I'm not in their heads…hopefully they can make that decision – they're a big part of this footy club," he said.
"If they're 100 per cent committed to us on Saturday afternoons for the next 12 months…it doesn't bother me [when they sign]."
Draft guru Cal Twomey teams up with Nat Edwards and Riley Beveridge to unpack all the winners and surprises from the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft
03:29
Roos explain shock pick swap, praise O’Sullivan
North Melbourne’s Will Thursfield offers insight into his club’s bold trade with Richmond and explains why No.2 pick Finn O’Sullivan is one to watch for fans
06:37
Tigers’ draft jackpot: What’s in store for 2025
Richmond’s Blair Hartley unpacks his club’s impressive draft haul and weighs in on No.1 pick Sam Lalor’s round one hopes
02:34
Jack Whitlock ditches graduation to get drafted
Key forward Jack Whitlock shares his excitement on Draft Night Live after skipping his year 12 graduation to join the Power at pick 33