Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes says it’s too early to suggest that Taylor Walker will “fit in” with the Crows’ playing group after the former Adelaide skipper was involved in a racism saga.
Walker was recently suspended for six games and hit with a $20,000 fine after racially abusing ex-St Kilda and current North Adelaide player Robbie Young during a SANFL game.
The Crows have since confirmed that the 31-year-old will still play next season.
Adelaide skipper Rory Sloane said in a recent interview that he had no doubt Walker will fit in just fine with his teammates once he returns.
“He will slot in seamlessly I reckon, it will be great to have him back. I know the boys have missed him,” Sloane told The Advertiser.
The highly publicised racism saga occurred only weeks after Walker signed a new one-year deal for 2022.
He will still have three matches to serve on the sidelines next year.
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Responding to Sloane’s comments, Cornes said it wasn’t the right time to make that call.
“Rory would be probably the most optimistic person I’ve ever come across – It’s a magnificent trait, Rory turns anything negative into a positive, I respect him enormously for that,” Cornes told SEN.
“It’s one of his great traits, but I don’t know if Taylor Walker is going to fit in seamlessly, I don’t know if we can make that call yet, can we?
“I don’t know how the Indigenous players at Adelaide are feeling, I don’t. Rory’s been away with Taylor Walker, they holidayed in the off-season to Noosa with their families, and you’ve seen those images on social media, so he’s got a better insight than me.
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“I don’t know behind the scenes how (Adeliade coach) Matthew Nicks is feeling, I saw a shattered Matthew Nicks only a few months ago, I saw shattered players, I saw a shattered Eddie Betts and Shaun Burgoyne.
“So I can’t confidently say Taylor Walker is going to fit in seamlessly.”
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