The boy from Broken Hill who became one of the best to ever pull on an Adelaide Crows jumper, Taylor balances football, business and media with his most important job, being a husband and father.
As a young boy growing up in the country, Taylor was like so many other kids – AFL obsessed. But Walker went one step further – he was a self-proclaimed ‘Crows-mad man’. The youngest of three siblings, Walker constantly watched the Adelaide Crows 1997 and 1998 Grand Finals, dreaming of one day making it to the big stage himself.
Dominating against men while still just a junior, Walker accepted a NSW Scholarship with the Crows when he was 16. His progression to the AFL was imminent, but not before he played in North Broken Hill’s 2007 Premiership, kicking seven goals in a Best on Ground performance.
2008 was Walker’s first year at the Crows, and it was not long became he became a cult figure for the way he carried himself both on and off the field. With his mullet flowing behind him, the man dubbed ‘Tex’ became a reliable goal scorer and imposing presence in the Crows forward line.
When an ACL injury in 2013 threatened to derail his career, Walker came out the other side with a new found sense of leadership and responsibility to his club. Promoted to Captain of the Crows in 2015, he was recognised league-wide for his leadership, twice voted the AFLPA Best Captain in his five-year tenure.
In 2020 Walker played his 200th AFL game and in the final game of the season, overtook club legend Tony Modra to take the title as Adelaide Crows All-Time Leading Goalkicker.
Across nearly 15 years in the AFL, Tex has won the respect of his peers, opponents, and Crows fans, however his journey has not been without its challenges, whether it was a year out the game with injury, leading the Crows in a losing Grand Final, or the sudden death of Phil Walsh only months into his role as club Captain.
Always one to wear his heart on his sleeve, Walker has never been afraid to speak his mind, offering honest assessments on the Crows, football, and life away from the club. It is his down to earth and relatable persona which has seen him successfully take on a range of roles in the media.
Away from football, Walker married his wife Ellie in early 2019 and later that year welcomed baby Hugo into the world. In 2021 the Walker’s second son Louis was born. He is a part-owner of The Alma Hotel in Adelaide, is completing a Bachelor of Business, and enjoys playing golf in his spare time.
With a deep appreciation for the fact he is living out his childhood dream, Walker is always first to put his hand up to help others. Amongst many examples, in 2013 Walker raised over $66,000 for the Leukemia Foundation, shaving his famous mullet off in the process. Then in 2018 he hosted a luncheon at Adelaide Oval to raise funds for the Melanoma Institute Australia.
Throughout his career Walker has had long-standing partnerships with Asics and Peter Kittle Toyota, and media relationships with Channel 7 and Triple M radio in Adelaide.
I just feel so lucky to do it for a great footy club, I grew up barracking for the Crows and I’m going to walk out of this game and footy club with good friends and great memories, and on the field is a bonus
