Taylor Walker

Taylor Walker, nicknamed ‘Tex,’ was born on April 25, 1990, in Broken Hill, New South Wales. In 2006, at the age of 16, he was signed as Adelaide’s first AFL NSW Scholarship player, demonstrating early recognition of his talent. Prior to his formal drafting in 2007 with pick 75, he led North Broken Hill to a Premiership, kicking seven goals and earning best-on-ground honors at just 17 years old. His early career saw him playing for Norwood in the SANFL, where he kicked over 50 goals in 2008. Walker made his AFL debut in Round 1, 2009, for the Adelaide Crows, earning an AFL Rising Star nomination in Round 10. He led the club’s goalkicking in 2011 with 32 goals from 13 games, and again in 2012 with 63 goals, finishing second in the AFL for goals per game.

Walker faced a significant setback in 2013 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, requiring a 12-month rehabilitation. He returned in 2014, playing 15 games and kicking 34 goals. In January 2015, he was appointed captain of Adelaide, a role he held until 2019. During his captaincy, he was twice voted the AFL Players Association Best Captain in 2016 and 2017. He led the Crows to the 2017 AFL Grand Final. In 2020, Walker became Adelaide’s all-time leading goalkicker, surpassing Tony Modra’s record with his 441st goal. He continued to perform strongly, leading the club’s goalkicking for a record sixth time in 2022 with 47 goals. In 2023, he kicked a career-high 76 goals, earning his first All-Australian team selection and a Showdown Medal for a major seven-goal performance in Round 20.