Entering his 18th season of AFL football at the age of 35, Adelaide’s all-time leading goalkicker Taylor Walker had a simple goal.
He wanted to play as much footy as he could.
Coming off a 2024 campaign riddled by constant back complaints, Walker knew he had to change something to extend his career, and in the end it was the advice of Skipper Jordan Dawson that rang true.
He told Walker to give pilates a try, and while reluctant at first he bought in, and now 24 weeks into the season he is reaping the rewards - having played all but two of the Crows’ games this season.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Walker explained how he had benefited from the training method this year.
“Pilates (has been the secret this year), over the journey I’d had a few people say pilates is good for the back, but I’d always thought to myself a 34-year-old man can’t be seen doing pilates,” Walker said.
“But it wasn’t until Daws (Jordan Dawson) said trust me just have a go at it, so I tried it and started getting a bit of pain relief and now I’m just addicted to it.
“I ended up buying a reformer for home and I’m pretty much on the pilates machine every second day, not in tights though!
“It (pilates) is one thing that has helped keep me on the field, on the training track and in the weights room, I just absolutely love it.”
As a result of his durability, Walker will play his 300th AFL game in the Crows’ qualifying final against Collingwood next Thursday night.
Looking back on his journey, he said it was an honour to have pulled on the tri-colours on so many occasions.
“A little kid from Broken Hill weighing 75 kilos getting drafted in 2007 to 18 years later still being here having played 299 games - I am filled with gratitude,” Walker said.
“There’s been a lot of memories made both on and off the field, lots of highs, lots of lows, lots of challenges that you go through with your teammates, the footy staff and ones you have to go through yourself.
“I’m going to get nice text messages from people that are really close to me, and friends and family, so there will certainly be times over the next week and a half where I’ll get a chance to reflect
“It’s been an amazing journey and here we are about to play 300 games, it’s pretty crazy - to have the opportunity to put this guernsey on 300 times, it’s very special.”
The most special part of the journey for the 35-year-old has been being able to bring his young family along for the ride.
He explained how having his three children Hugo, Louis and Hattie, as well as wife Ellie watch him play every week as a big driver behind his desire to continue.
“Kids are the most honest things you can have and my wife has been an absolute star,” Walker said.
“We’ve got three beautiful kids in Hugo, Louis and Hattie and they are probably the reason why I continue to do it (play footy).
“They (my family) have fallen in love with what I do which makes my job a lot easier, and this footy Club is great in how it embraces family and has allowed me to bring my family along for the ride.
“The boys in the locker room have been so great with my kids, making them feel so welcome, and it makes it easy for me to keep wanting to come back here.”
As for whether the journey would continue into a 19th year, Walker said he was unsure what the future would hold.
“I haven’t made up my mind to be honest, who knows if we won the flag I could easily float off into the sunset and watch this footy Club have a lot of success for years to come, or I could have the itch and go again,” Walker said.
“I haven’t made that decision as to whether I’ll play on next year or not, we’ve got a job to do over the next four-to-six weeks and I’m really looking forward to what we can do.”
Adelaide takes on Collingwood in a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval next Thursday.
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