AFL

'Tough decision': Crows great flies but may not play

By Steve Larkin

Aug 12, 2026

(L-R) Matthew Nicks and Taylor Walker. — Crows coach Matthew Nicks has a tough decision to make on whether Taylor Walker plays against Freo. -AAP Image

Adelaide stalwart Taylor Walker will fly to Perth with no guarantee of playing against Fremantle in a finals-shaping fixture.

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Walker, who on Monday announced he'll retire at season's end, is among the Crows' 26-strong playing squad travelling to Perth.

But coach Matthew Nicks is yet to decide if the 36-year-old will front against the ladder-leading Dockers on Friday night.

"It's a tough decision," Nicks told reporters at Adelaide Airport on Wednesday.

"But one that the way the draw is panning out, the way that if you look at the prediction of what might play out, we're mindful of having Taylor at his best in the final series."

Nicks said Walker was unlikely to be able to play six games in a row - the last two minor-round games and possibly four finals.

"We want to have a certain amount of experience in and around our younger guys that are playing forward in the ball, especially," he said.

"Tex is in a great spot mentally, physically.

"We'll do what we can to have him at his absolute best when we really have to - which I'm not sure exactly when that is, that's our issue."

First-choice ruckman Lachlan McAndrew will play after a one-game spell and forward Darcy Fogarty returns after serving a three-game suspension.

Key defender James Borlase has overcome a hamstring ailment, utility Luke Nankervis has recovered from from a chest injury and midfielder Jake Soligo, who was rested last-start, is among the travelling party.

But veteran forward Alex Neal-Bullen (family reasons) will remain in Adelaide, as will two-gamers Oscar Ryan and Archie Ludowyke.

Influential halfback Wayne Milera's return from a hamstring strain has been pushed back a week in what Nicks said was a no-risk policy.

The fifth-placed Crows, who were minor premiers last year and then crashed out of the finals with consecutive losses, are two premiership points behind third spot, but just one win ahead of seventh.

"We learnt a pretty good lesson last year," Nicks said.

"We went really hard and finished as well as we possibly could (entering) the finals and it wasn't necessarily the best thing for us.

"It doesn't mean we're not going to try and do it again this year. We're going to try and finish as high as we can, get that home ground advantage."