Kuwarna Senior Coach Matthew Nicks has confirmed veteran forward Taylor Walker will line-up with the Club’s SANFL team this Saturday.
The 36-year-old has missed the past two AFL matches with a minor hamstring strain and will return to competitive football through the State League.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, Nicks revealed Walker would not be selected for Thursday night’s AFL clash against Hawthorn in Tasmania, but said he remained a crucial part of the club’s plans for 2026.
“He’ll play SANFL, Tex,” Nicks said.
“With where the group is performing and (Tex) coming back from a number of weeks out, we didn’t select him this week in the 23, and then we had a discussion on whether he plays or not.
“First we thought maybe not, but then Tex and I talked through it and it would end up five or six weeks out if he doesn’t, so he wanted to have the hit-out. He’s a competitor, he wants to play, which is a good thing.
“Tex playing SANFL is about him getting a game of footy in, otherwise it would stretch out to him being out for five or six weeks. We can train match simulation, but it’s not the same.
“I think he (Tex) has a really good understanding of how important he is to us, and how important he will be for us in the second half of the year.”
Fellow forwards Riley Thilthorpe and Callum Ah Chee will be selected for the match against the Hawks, after overcoming injuries.
Thilthorpe missed last weekend’s win against North Melbourne due to a back complaint, while Ah Chee returned to competitive football through the SANFL a fortnight ago following a hamstring injury.
“As it sits at the moment, everything going well, yeah (they will play),” Nicks said.
“Riley has pulled up fresh and we are confident he will be in a really good space.
“Cal is an important piece (to our team), we brought him across for a reason, the experience he brings on the big stages, and against quality oppositions.”
Nicks did, however, rule forward Luke Pedlar out of the game against Hawthorn due to knee soreness, as well as wing Isaac Cumming (hamstring).
"Peds won't play this week, unfortunately, he's a little sore," Nicks said.
"He's put nine-odd games together, which is the most he's done, and he's been rock solid through the first half of the year.
"Could we have pushed the envelope? Maybe, but we are not going to risk that, similar with Isaac Cumming, he won't play - that's just with a five-day break, and some awareness in the hamstring, it's just not worth the risk."
Kuwarna will name its full team on Wednesday at 5.50pm (ACST) for its match against Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium in Launceston on Thursday night.
Fans can watch the game live FROM 7PM (ACST) on Channel 7 Adelaide, Fox Footy and Kayo.
The Club’s SANFL team will face Glenelg at Glenelg Oval on Saturday at 2.10pm.
