Kane Cornes has put a line through Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker‘s career.
Despite Walker collecting a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2023 after kicking an impressive 76 goals, Walker’s 2024 campaign has been nowhere close to last year’s.
The 34-year-old is out of contract come season’s end, and Cornes is calling for the club to axe him as they look to rebuild their young list.
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The Crows have struggled through their 2024 campaign – they sit 15th with a 4-9-1 record.
It’s lowly spot on the ladder also added extra pressure in the club’s mid-season review.
While the club has denied any leaders are on the chopping block, the Crows could withhold from offering the veteran a new contract for next season.
Now, Cornes wants to club to make the harsh call and axe Walker.
“It’s not personal, but the Crows must make tough call on Walker’s future”, Cornes said in The Age.
“(Matthew) Nicks needs to make a tough call. So does Walker.”
But there have been reports Walker will play on irrespective of where that is, come 2024.
“This is not the first time Walker has been tested on his childhood dream to be a Crow and only a Crow,” Cornes said.
“Last year we were told Walker was willing to finish his career at another AFL club if Adelaide chose not to re-sign him.”
Adelaide has not yet begun conversations about what Walker’s future looks like, meaning other clubs could be preparing their own offers.
“He is yet to learn from his own club, that he’s been at since 2007, if it’s (a contract) going to be with the club he wants,” Damien Barrett said on Nine’s Footy Classified earlier in June.
“That’s a conversation to be had in the next six-to-eight weeks.
“If it doesn’t go down the path he wants, I’ve got no doubt that he’s open to offers from other clubs.”
Cornes urged the Crows to not be intimidated by the Walker camp’s attempts to get another contract as the club begin a rebuild.
“Once again, there is this image of the Walker camp loading the agenda to pressure Adelaide into talks on a new deal,” he said.
“The Crows should stare down Walker’s threats and inform him that this season will be his last at their club.”
However, Cornes declared that Nicks and the Crows aren’t “ruthless” enough to make that bold, but required call to axe Walker.
“Adelaide has not had a ruthless image since Malcolm Blight arrived at the end of 1996 and culled the club of its senior players,” he said.