Adelaide may be without star forward Taylor Walkerย for their opening Round 1 clash on the Gold Coast.
The All-Australian centre-half-forward has been sidelined from recent training sessions with back spasms, forcing Adelaide to ponder whether to hurry their ageing star back into the lineup so early in the year.
The 33-year-old veteran has turned a corner in the past couple of seasons to become perhaps their most instrumental player and leader on the field, making his potential absence a significant loss against an in-form Suns squad.
Taylor Walkerโs running session didnโt last long. Heโs wrapped up just as his team-mates get into their main session.
Matthew Nicks said he would be a game time call to face the SUNS, but clearly now very much in doubt with his back issue @FootyonNine
— Braden Ingram (@bradeningram) March 12, 2024
Teammate Ben Keays expressed hopeful optimism about Walker's availability, highlighting his dedication and resilience throughout the pre-season.
"Being a veteran of many, many pre-seasons, he's just managing his body the best way that he knows how," Keays told reporters on Tuesday.
"He has done everything he can to this point and hopefully, we get him out there because he's super-important to us, a leader of the club, fantastic for our forward line."
However, Adelaide could be considerably vulnerable in the key forward department with the absence of Walker compounded by an injury to fellow forward Riley Thilthorpe.
Thilthorpe, who suffered a torn lateral meniscus in a trial game against West Coast earlier this month, is expected to miss the initial three months of the season, leaving a void to be filled in the Crows' attacking setup.
Adelaide may turn to versatile 28-year-old recruit Chris Burgess to fill the hole and make his Crows' debut against his former club, Gold Coast.
"One thing I have enjoyed from Chris is his defensive stuff," Keays noted.
"He has done some ruck work as well, as a back-up ruckman."
The Crows' season kicks off this Saturday, 8:10 pm from People's First Stadium on the Gold Coast against Hardwick's Suns, looking to go 2-0 and hold a rare spot a-top the table.
