An extraordinary husband, Dad, son, friend, and footballer. That is how Ellie Walker describes her husband, Taylor Walker.

Ellie has stood with him through more than half his footballing career, riding the highs and the lows, while raising their young family together.

They first met at the Clipsal in 2013 and, to get her attention, he asked her to hold his favourite pair of sunglasses while he went out before retrieving them the following week.

The pair have been together for 12 years, and married for five, after tying the knot in a surprise engagement party turned wedding in November 2019.

As the Crows all-time leading goalkicker prepares to line up for his 300th AFL game against Collingwood on Thursday night, Ellie offered a heartfelt insight into the man behind the milestone.

“He really is an extraordinary husband, Dad, friend, son, brother,” Ellie said.

“Taylor is one of a kind and I feel so grateful to be riding this wave with him and supporting him through all of this.

“I feel like there’s so many emotions running through my body at the moment, but I think pride is the main one. I am so excited and just so proud of him.”

Walker will become just the fifth player to pull on the tri-colours on 300 occasions, joining Andrew McLeod, Mark Ricciuto, Tyson Edwards and Ben Hart in the exclusive club.

Although Ellie finds it hard to pinpoint her favourite moment from his AFL career, she said the day Walker was offered the captaincy was one she would always remember.

“I remember the day Phil Walsh asked him to be Captain and he was so humble that he was unsure if it should be him,” Ellie said.

“I think that’s always stuck in my head, that he is this amazing footballer and a great leader, but he didn’t realise it.

“I think it shows so much at the Club that he is a really great leader and all the boys really do look up to him.

“Taylor becoming Captain was very, very special. The (2017) Grand Final also sticks in my head, although it didn’t go the way we wanted, it was still an amazing achievement to get there.”

Ellie and Walker also share three children - Hugo, five, Louis, four, and Harriet, two.

Walker’s family is regularly seen supporting him at the Crows’ West Lakes’ headquarters during training sessions, as well as on game day.

Ellie believes becoming a father has helped Walker take his game to new heights.

“He’s always worked so hard, and I don’t think that’s changed since having kids, but I feel like since he’s just gone up a notch and just got better and better,” Ellie said.

“He’s an amazing Dad and he will do anything for his kids. He loves being outside and kicking the footy with them.

“I love when the kids see him and are like ‘Daaaddd’, whether that be at the game or on the TV, it’s so special and I always film it and send it to him after the game.

“All the boys, all the girls and all the staff are so beautiful to our children and I feel like it’s just this big family, so it’s just amazing to be celebrating such an incredible thing with our extended family.”

The milestone hasn’t come without some hardships, especially as injuries and soreness have become a little more common as he’s got older.

Ellie said Walker’s milestone was a result of hard work, resilience and sacrifice. 

“The sacrifices he’s had to make, the responsibility, the expectation, the pressure to perform week-in-week-out - there’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes, so that’s why I am just so proud,” Ellie said.

“I am just so glad he can reap the rewards of his hard work. Reaching 300 games is a fantastic milestone.

“To be leading goalkicker and everything he’s achieved, he deserves this milestone so much because I see how hard he works, as well as being an amazing hands-on Dad.

“I feel like he doesn’t stop, and he’s given up so much and that’s why I’m so proud of him for getting there.”

Walker will notch his 300th match when the Crows face the Magpies in the qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night 

And Ellie says she can’t wait to cheer on Walker and the team.

“I’m the proudest wife, and I hope he has the best time out there,” Ellie said.

“He’s not only an amazing footballer, he’s an extraordinary husband and human, so bring on Thursday.”