Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker has shared a lighthearted moment that made him “feel really old” prior to Sunday’s clash against Essendon. 

Debutants Archie Ludowyke and Oscar Ryan were presented with their guernseys before the game, and Ludowyke’s dad spoke about his son’s journey to the AFL.

As part of his speech, he shared a fun fact that the young Crow was born the exact same month Walker was drafted to Adelaide - November, 2007.

“He led with a fun fact that the month Ludo was born, I got drafted to the Club, so I had to give him a little rib tickler on the bus on the way home,” Walker said on Triple M Breakfast with Roo, Ditts and Loz.

“It is crazy, it makes me feel really old.”

The Crows’ all-time leading goal kicker’s comments come after Adelaide enjoyed a 72-point victory against Essendon, with the win lifting the team into fourth spot.

It was a night to remember for Ludowyke, who also made his debut alongside teammate Oscar Ryan, with the pair, and mid-season recruit Hugo Hall-Kahan kicking their first AFL goals.

Walker said he was pleased for the trio and proud of the entire team’s performance against the Bombers.

“We got to see a few young kids debut, Hugo Hall-Kahan kicked his first goal, along with the debutants as well, and I thought Riley Thilthorpe was outstanding, along with some of the other boys,” Walker said.

“He (Thilthorpe) was very good. His last two, three, four weeks have been on the right path, so hopefully he’s finding good form at the right end of the year.

“Sometimes when you play a team having a challenging year, teams can go and kick six, seven, eight goals in a row and they can roll over.

“They kept fighting all the way until the end of the game. They’re certainly on the right path, but our boys were really good.”

Walker also explained the rationale behind the Club managing players’ loads as it looks towards the pointy end of the season.

“From Club land, you try to manage players Monday to Friday, you try to manage their loads in training, and now with having five players on the interchange, you can now manage people’s game time,” Walker said. 

“Then the third one would be you don’t play. They’re the phases our Club goes through to try and manage players.

“You’ve got to be careful you’re not disrespecting your opposition, (and) as a footy Club, we have a massive amount of respect for our opposition.

“You keep that in mind, so number one you respect your opposition, number two, you do what you need to for your list and your team.”

Adelaide will now turn its attention to its Round 22 match against Richmond at Adelaide Oval this Saturday night.

Tickets available here.