Soon-to-be Adelaide retiree Taylor Walker says he believed his career was just about done during the COVID-19 interrupted season of 2020. 

Playing for a team firmly situated at the bottom of the ladder, Walker was struggling to have an impact on the field, booting just 15 goals from 14 matches, due to a lingering knee issue. 

The Club’s all-time leading goalkicker needed a circuit breaker, and that came in the form of high performance staffer, Josh Manuel. 

Manuel, who still works at the Club as its Head of Athletic Performance, went to work with Walker and set up a training program aimed at alleviating his pain. 

The next season Walker booted 48 goals in 17 games, and with a new lease on life, he ended up playing for another six years, where he produced a career-best All-Australian campaign in 2023. 

Speaking to JB and Billy on Triple M Rush Hour Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon, Walker credited Manuel for his incredible late-career renaissance. 

“I had a fairly sore knee and it was causing me quite a bit of grief, and I couldn’t get any continuity in training, let alone games,” Walker said.

“I was lucky enough we had a guy by the name of Josh Manuel who came into our program, and I’m so grateful he arrived at that time otherwise I probably would have been on SEEK looking for a job. 

“He’s been able to keep my body sound, and when your body is feeling good you find yourself in a good space mentally as well - so I need to give him a nice bottle of red at the end of the year.” 

When it came to making the decision to hang up the boots, Walker admitted the fear of going on one year too long played a big role as he went about having honest conversations with both the Club and those close to him. 

“It was a bit of everything to be honest, I had a good chat with the Club and we both agreed that it was the right time for both of us,” Walker said. 

“I’ve always looked at those players who went on the extra year, and I just didn’t want to do that. I've seen great players exit our footy Club in the right way and I’ve also seen guys exit our Club who if they had their time again might have changed how they did it. 

“I want to go out with the full respect and trust of my footy Club and keep that pathway there for my kids if they ever wanted to go back.” 

One chapter that defined Walker’s career came in 2017, where he captained the Club to its third Grand Final appearance, following a stellar home and away season. 

The Crows were unable to get the result that day, an experience the 36-year-old admitted gave him a number of valuable lessons. 

“It’s one of those things, you’d love to win the Grand Final, but Richmond were very good on that day, we were probably the best team all that year but weren’t able to get it done on that last day,” Walker said.

“If we can experience it again, I’d love to, but if not what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and you learn from things that. 

“It’s held me in good stead and I learnt a lot from the experience.”