When Adelaide’s all-time leading goal-kicker Taylor Walker begins his approach to the big sticks, you may notice him whispering quietly to himself.

This is a deliberate part of the 35-year-old’s routine where he delivers positive reinforcement to himself, and it has helped him become one of the best set-shot kicks of his generation.

The Broken Hill native, who sits 29th on the AFL/VFL all-time goal kicking list with 663 majors from 292 games, was asked to reveal some of the secrets behind his routine on his weekly Triple M Adelaide Breakfast spot. 

He said the art of set-shot goal-kicking was mainly mental, and explained how whispering two sentences to himself had helped him in this space across his career.  

“I think it is a massive mental thing, and at the moment I don’t think I’m quite executing my goal kicking the way I would like,” Walker said. 

“So when I am in a bit of a slump with it, I really try to hone in on my routine and back in that I know my routine and if I execute it more often than not I’ll be successful. 

“Goal-kicking is so mental that it gets to the point where I just talk to myself, I say ‘I’m the best set-shot at the Club, I’m the best set-shot in the AFL.’

“They say if you say something seven times you start to believe it, so I take that philosophy with my goal kicking and it seems to work, I’ve always loved a set-shot, they just make me happy.” 

Walker was among the goal kickers in the Crows’ Round 16 victory against Richmond on Sunday, kicking two majors to help inspire a 68-point win. 

Adelaide was clinical from start-to-finish at the MCG, in a performance Walker described as satisfying, given the team  had just returned from its mid-season bye. 

“It was really, really pleasing for a number of reasons, Richmond had obviously had the wood over us and hadn’t beaten them at the MCG for quite some time so it was satisfying to get the result,” Walker said. 

“Coming off the bye you can always be a bit scratchy as well, so for us to be able to put in four solid quarters was very pleasing. 

“It was all across the board for us, Jordon Butts doing his job down back, Junior (Wayne Milera) was outstanding, I thought ROB was great in the ruck and our mids were excellent which helped the forward line shine.” 

Although the performance was one built on a complete team performance, Walker did have extra praise reserved for two of his young teammates. 

Fresh off a three-year contract extension, Dan Curtin produced a career-best performance, collecting 10 AFLCA coaches’ votes for his 26 disposals and eight marks - while Josh Worrell continued a break-out season in defence with 24 disposals and 11 marks. 

“I think he (Dan Curtin) found his spot on the wing, he’s got a great workrate, he reads the game really well, he’s super clean, makes great decisions and by foot and hand he brings his teammates into the game,” Walker said. 

“He probably walks away with three things from Sunday afternoon, and they are Brownlow votes.

“Josh Worrell would have to be in the All Australian conversation, he’s been super consistent and we are so grateful to have him at our footy Club. 

“It’s not just on-field where he adds value either, off-field he is such a great character and we are very lucky to have him playing some good footy for us.” 

Adelaide returns to Adelaide Oval this weekend, with a game against Melbourne on Sunday at 2.45pm.