NATHAN van Berlo has opened up for the first time about being replaced as Adelaide captain by Taylor Walker, saying the club's decision won't change his approach to football.
Walker was named sole captain for season 2015 last Wednesday, ending van Berlo's four-year stint as skipper.
van Berlo said that stepping aside for the full-forward wouldn't stop him from leading the club.
"I was always keen to do what's best for this football club and what's best for this footy club at the moment is that Taylor Walker's the captain," van Berlo said.
"I'm really supportive of Tex, I love him as a leader and he's such an influential person and player ... in saying that, we've got a number of leaders underneath Tex, not only in the leadership group but also around the footy club.
"I'm certainly one of those who will remain a strong leader.
"I don't think it's going to affect my role within the team – it’s business as usual for me.
"I've still got a really strong passion with the rest of the leadership group and the rest of the players to return this football club to where we need to be."
A vocal Walker appeared settled as skipper at training on Friday as he directed his teammates during drills and led his group from station to station.
When appointed last week the 24-year-old declared the captaincy wouldn't change his personality and, except for the loss of a little facial hair, van Berlo said he was staying true to his word.
"He actually had a shave last week – I noticed that – so I thought he might have just sharpened up a bit," he joked.
"[I] haven't seen a great change in Tex and he said from day one that he wasn't going to change.
"He's still that big character that we all love and he's, as I said, a very influential guy and he's going to be a great leader."
It's been just over a year since van Berlo ruptured his Achilles tendon in a training accident, when he was hit by a weighted sled.
The injury sidelined him for the entire 2014 season.
Although he's been in full training for a number of months now, van Berlo said he still needed every session this summer to make sure he could line up in round one against North Melbourne on April 5.
"It's a big year for myself and I'm going to have to make sure I get the full pre-season under my belt, which so far has been so good for me," he said.
"Having missed 12 months of footy I've still got some ground to make up.
"I can't wait to get out there again with my teammates in the NAB [Challenge]."
