Adelaide vice-captain Ben Keays says a miscommunication from the bench led to him handing veteran teammate Taylor Walker his 699th goal in AFL football.
Keays received a free kick deep in the Crows’ forward 50 in the final minutes of Saturday night’s win against the Suns, and after being told Walker was already on 699 career goals, gave him the ball for an easy snap.
Thinking the Club’s all-time goalkicker had ticked off the milestone, Keays and his teammates mobbed the 36-year-old, only to quickly find out that he was still one goal off.
“I'm not too sure (how he was feeling), but I don't know if he was flat (he didn’t get there). I think it'll come off at some point for the rest of the season,” Keays told the media on Monday.
“We actually went a bit early, the message came around that he was on 699, and that's the one that I handed off to him. So we celebrated like he got the milestone.
“We didn’t know he still had one more to go, so he didn't tell anyone that. I think he was happy to accept the handball and kick the goal. So hopefully it's this week. But if not, I'm sure it’ll come at some point.”
Walker wound back the clock on Saturday night, booting five second half goals as he helped lift the Crows to a percentage boosting win against the Suns.
Keays said it was a thrill to watch Walker go about his business and still have such a great impact in his 19th season.
“I feel like I was watching him from when I was a kid and seeing the big mullet kicking goals, and then you come to the club and it's amazing the aura of him,” Keays said.
“He's certainly not done, we just saw him on the weekend, he's still got all the tricks, and I think the big thing for him, and what he's done so well, is he's just all in on the team.
“He plays a really selfless role, and I think he really tries to get the best out of the boys around him. You know, not just myself, obviously Riley (Thilthorpe), Darcy (Fogarty), Toby Murray, pretty much everyone.
“So I think that's the most impressive thing about playing with him. And then the highlights, the big goals are just the cherry on top. So he's great to have as a teammate.”
Another Crow that had a significant influence on Saturday night was Izak Rankine, as he recorded a match-high 31 disposals playing through the midfield.
Keays said it was incredibly important to the team to have the livewire up and firing as the business end of the season approached.
“He's been huge with the role he's played, and I think he's embraced a team first, selfless role, and he's been doing that so well.
“Then you've seen that he can put the cherry on top when he needs to with his amazing ability, so he'll be so important for us.
“Since he's got here, he's always been a really valued, really important part of our squad. We're lucky to have him, and it was great to see him have such a good game against his former side.”
The Crows’ next assignment is a trip to the SCG to face second-placed in what will be a crucial Friday night clash.
Keays said the group was excited to test itself against one of the competition’s best teams on their home deck.
“We love going up to Sydney and playing there at the SCG, it’s one of my favorite grounds,” Keays said.
“They've had such a brilliant year and been so consistent, they were probably one of the benchmark teams early this season, and still are.
“We’re super excited to test ourselves against these top teams, and I think watching their game against Freo on Thursday night, it looked like a final.
“So we can expect that sort of intensity from Sydney on Friday night and I'm super excited for our group to take on the challenge.”
Adelaide takes on Sydney at the SCG this Friday night, with the match to begin at 7.10pm (ACST).
Fans can watch the game live on Channel 7 Adelaide, Fox Footy and Kayo.
