Taylor Walker has celebrated his 250th game in perhaps the best fashion of any player to reach the mark, booting ten goals to seal a perfect day for the Adelaide Crows.
The Adelaide veteran had a remarkable seven goals at half-time before booting his final goal in the fourth term to the raucous faithful at the Adelaide Oval.
The 27. 12 (174) is Adelaide’s highest score since 2016 and the club’s ninth-highest in its esteemed history.
But a day Adelaide fans will never forget is one that was a nightmare for the West Coast Eagles, who were smashed to the tune of 122 points.
There was hardly a poor performance from the Crows, yet the headlines will all read about Walker, who became the first player from his club to kick 10 goals since Tom Lynch.
A false start, but Tex Walker gets his TENTH late in the fourth term! 🤯
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) June 10, 2023
A perfect call from @PaulBonsor7 for AFL Nation 👌 pic.twitter.com/7TMWzHxG3A
A previous career-high seven goals was blown out of the water in the first half alone. Despite Adam Simpson swinging in-form key forward Oscar Allen onto Walker after the main break, the three goals were always a formality and the 33-year-old reached the mark in the final term.
He’s the first player to kick 10 goals since Josh Bruce achieved the feat in 2021.
Walker’s final stats read 21 disposals, 11 marks, 11 contested possessions and 10.2. He was well assisted by the likes of Izak Rankine (3.2) and Rory Sloane (two majors), the latter of which played his best game for the season.
Rory Laird was clearly the pick of the midfielders, finishing with game-highs in disposals (34), contested possessions (20) and clearances (13).
Matthew Nicks’ side won every quarter and were never threatened from midway through the first term.
On a day of understandably few highlights for West Coast, one who didn’t disappoint was Ryan Maric, the no.1 pick from the mid-season draft.
Selected for his debut during the week and finding himself on the Adelaide Oval when he was stacking shelves at Woolworths just weeks ago, Maric booted his side’s first before finishing with two goals.
Ruckman Bailey Williams was his side’s best, competing all day and taking the chocolates over Reilly O’Brien in what was an enthralling ruck contest among the setting of a disastrous day for West Coast.
But more injury trouble will have West Coast fans pulling their hair out. Jake Waterman was a late out, while Luke Foley was subbed off with a hamstring injury.
For the Crows, the triumph sees them locked inside the top eight for at least Round 13, as well as secure a mammoth percentage boost.
“It was the statement they needed to make,” Bryce Gibbs said in commentary for AFL Nation.
“The percentage boost they needed to stay in touch with the top eight.”
FULL SCORE
Adelaide Crows: 7.5, 14.8, 21.10, 27.12 (174)
West Coast: 2.1, 4.2, 6.3, 8.4. (52)
GOALS
Adelaide Crows: Walker 10, Rankine 3, Thilthorpe 2, Fogarty 2, Sloane 2, Murphy 2, Sholl 2, Pedlar, Soligo, Rachele, Keays
West Coast: Maric 2, Williams, Allen, Darling, Gaff, Kelly, Petruccelle
BEST
Adelaide Crows: Walker, Laird, Rankine, O’Brien, Dawson
West Coast: Williams, Kelly, Yeo, Allen, Ginbey
INJURIES
Adelaide Crows: N/A
West Coast: Foley (hamstring)