ADELAIDE forward Taylor Walker isn't one to do things the easy way.

In his first game since round 10, Walker got on the end of a raking inside-50 kick from Jared Petrenko late in the second term with Port beginning to claw its way back into Showdown XXXI. The burly forward, known for his exciting and unorthodox play, made the optimistic decision to handball to the running Henderson, rather than going back to slot the goal for himself from just 15m out.

The wily Troy Chaplin read Walker like the morning newspaper, smothering the handball to the dismay of the Crows supporters in attendance.

Luckily, the crafty Matthew Wright came to the rescue, cleaning up Walker's mess and snapping truly as the Crows took a handy 22-point buffer into the half-time break.