Robert Walls Has Launched An Explosive Attack On Taylor Walker

Victorian commentator Robert Walls has criticised Adelaide Crows captain Tex Walker for his lack of physicality.

“He huffs and puffs a lot, but he doesn’t blow many houses down,” Walls told SEN.

“I just reckon he’s got to set the example. I thought he let himself down last week in one incident where he needed to stand up and be stronger.

“I thought in last year’s Grand Final, when the game was slipping away, a statement needed to be made — and a physical statement.

“I’m just talking about bumps and tackles. At boundary throw-ins, put some body pressure on someone — anyone — just to get the blood boiling.

“I think Taylor Walker needs to lead from the front in that respect. When you’ve got a big, strong captain, you need him to be physical and aggressive.”

The comments follow a claim by former Crows captain and FIVEAA’s own Mark Bickley that Walker attracts “convenient” criticism.

“He is a bloke who has been on the Adelaide list for nine to ten years so this isn’t new for him — he hasn’t always been too far away from criticism,” Bicks said on SEN. “I think a little bit of it comes about because of the style of player that he is.”

“He is one of these guys that at times makes it look effortless. Sometimes when he is able to pick the ball up and wheel around — whether it is with his left or right foot — he makes the difficult seem easy.

“When it doesn’t go your way, that laconic nature makes people look at you and say ‘are you really giving your heart and soul to this team as the leader.’

“The other thing to remember is that Taylor has been voted by his peers as the best captain in the AFL for 2016 and 2017. For people to start questioning his captaincy seems a bit convenient.

“I don’t think he is doing a whole lot differently than what he has done in past years.”