Taylor Walker has admitted that the stain left by his racist slur directed towards an Indigenous opponent is something that is “never going to go away”.
Walker was handed a six-match ban for his slur aimed at SANFL player Robbie Young, and subsequently took some time away from the club in the wake of the incident.
The 31-year-old opened up on his last few months, touching on how much he has grown through educating himself.
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“It was one of the most challenging things I’ve had to go through to date,” he told Triple M.
“I’ve obviously put my hand up and said that I was in the wrong and we want to eradicate this, not only in Australia, but around the world as well.
“I certainly learnt a lot about myself, my Indigenous teammates past and present and certainly about the community.
“It’s something that’s going to forever be there, it’s never going to go away, and I’m looking forward to trying to make a difference in the community.”
Walker became emotional when asked about the toll of the saga on his loved ones, and praised his wife for her support.
“One of the toughest things was seeing how much my family did hurt, especially my wife,” he said. “She was an amazing support for me the whole time.”
“You just don’t get through these things by yourself. She wasn’t the only one that supported me, I’ve had a few people that supported me immensely through this.
“I suppose when you go through something like this, you understand who your true friends and family are.”
Walker has done work with the Indigenous community in Port Augusta in the wake of his suspension, and said he “loved every minute of it”.
The former captain has been back at the Adelaide Football Club, and said he does not expect to immediately walk back into the side when his suspension ends in Round 4.
“I was quite nervous and anxious, really,” he said of his return to the club.
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“It feels like I was five or six years old going into my first day of school back in Broken Hill.
“The boys were quite welcoming when I got back and getting back and kicking the footy around is what I love doing, so it’s been awesome to be back around the footy club.”