TAYLOR Walker has made a strong and injury-free return to competitive football, booting three goals for Adelaide's SANFL side against Glenelg on Friday night.
Walker moved cleanly and confidently and made what he could of limited opportunities, finishing with six marks and 12 possessions as the Crows were convincingly beaten 17.21 (123) to 13.8 (86).
The result was of little concern for Walker's AFL teammates, the vast majority of whom watched on from the grandstand.
And they didn't have to wait long to celebrate the 24-year-old's first goal since undergoing a knee reconstruction early last year: a textbook lead mark and conversion from 45 metres coming eight minutes into the opening term.
It was met by rapturous applause and saw him mobbed by every one of his playing teammates.
Walker's knee was tested out minutes later when he led one way before cutting back, turning two opponents inside out only to snap a behind on his left foot.
Despite the slippery conditions, at no point did the star forward hesitate or hold back, regularly throwing his body into contests, sometimes to the gasps of a packed house on Brighton Road.
Adelaide's SANFL coach Heath Younie told AFL.com.au Walker got through his first competitive hit-out free of any injury concerns.
"We managed him thought the game according to what was necessary and I thought he moved well, he got through the game," Younie said.
"He was really keen to play and excited and getting that goal early just probably settled him a little bit.
"I just spoke to him, he's fine, he's up and about and he's really happy with the way he's pulled up.
"There's no concerns from that end."
Younie said it hadn't been discussed whether Walker would play two games in the SANFL or be eligible for AFL selection next week.
Adelaide faces Melbourne at Adelaide Oval Saturday week, while its SANFL team will play Port Adelaide in Clare in rural SA.
"I'm not sure how many he's going to spend with us, we just go to selection and if he's there [he's there] – I wouldn't know and I wouldn't want to speculate," Younie said.
"He's pulled up well, he'll train as per normal next week. We'll have the selection late next week and they'll make a call on it."
Walker was ably assisted in attack by rookie-listed small forward Charlie Cameron.
The exciting West Australian booted four goals and gifted Walker two with striking feats of agility, speed and vision.
Younie said the 19-year-old's form had been building and praised his defensive pressure after he laid six tackles.
"Charlie's last two weeks have been really impressive, and regardless of the four goals he kicked I just thought his work rate was really good," he said.
"He stayed in the game defensively, and in the end if you do that you actually get reward for effort. The four goals was reward for that effort."
