ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke has revealed how a heart-to-heart chat with struggling skipper Taylor Walker helped spark the forward's form revival.
Walker has been in the spotlight this week after a lacklustre start to the season and his team's limp round four defeat to Collingwood at home.
But the big Crow answered his critics with a match-winning performance against Sydney on Friday night, booting four majors in his side's 12.13 (85) to 10.15 (75) triumph at the SCG.
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Despite saying he did not spend much time "trawling the internet" to read opinions, Pyke confirmed he had pulled Walker aside during the week.
"We deal with what we can control internally and I just asked him how he was travelling," the coach said.
"He's a really proud guy and he's been a really strong leader of our footy club.
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"He hasn't been happy with his form either – to a point – but he's still been having an impact.
"I was just super proud of him tonight. It was one of those occasions where he came to play and he came to lead and he did it really well."
Walker was on the board early in the Harbour City, slotting an angled set shot in the opening quarter, and things got better when he booted a second goal later in the term after to a 50m penalty.
However, his best effort came mid-way through the second – a long-range bomb from inside the centre square that had the small group of Adelaide fans on their feet.
"I was super proud of him (Walker) in particular. Especially, I know some of the opinion that has been around about him," Pyke said.
"Sometimes it helps when you back people in."
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Adelaide can add Kyle Hartigan (hamstring) to their casualty ward after he limped from the ground in the second term.
Eddie Betts, David Mackay, Rory Sloane and the Crouch brothers, among others, are already training away from the main group.
"I think it was an important win for us in the circumstances and more important for the guys who are in the team than the guys who are out of the team," Pyke said.
"Often the focus – given that we've got a few guys who are out – becomes on the guys who aren't playing.
"I was pretty clear with the group that I wanted us to focus on who was in and what they were capable of."
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Pyke said Sloane was a chance to return from his foot injury in time for next week's clash against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval.
That game starts a run of four matches at the venue for the Crows, who also play Carlton, Port Adelaide (away) and the Western Bulldogs there.
