Taylor Walker takes a big grab at Adelaide Oval against the Kangaroos. Source: Getty Images
AFL: Collingwood forward Travis Cloke admits he was impressed by the Adelaide Crows after their big win over North Melbourne but he says the club are more focused on their own structures this early in the season.
WHEN Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown says he sees some elements of Wayne Carey's all-star game in Taylor Walker, you know you have seen something special.
The just-retired Brown made the observation after Walker's domination of North Melbourne for the Crows in the round one match at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Walker's remarkable 22-disposal, 15-mark, 6 goal performance in his first game as Adelaide captain was one for the ages.
Apart from lighting up the scoreboard and inspiring the Crows to a 77-point win, the 713 metres gained for his team was the second-most ever recorded by a key forward.
Since Champion Data started recording statistics in 1999, only Sydney star Lance Franklin has chalked up more metres in a match for his side.
Franklin gained 741 metres for Hawthorn against Essendon in 2010.
Walker's big day out against the Kangaroos also moved him into third place in Champion Data ranking points by a Crows key forward, with 177, while his 15 marks were the second-most recorded by a tall Adelaide forward.
Walker holds the record since 1999 with his 16 grabs against Melbourne in round 22, 2012.
Team-mate Patrick Dangerfield described Walker's performance as "unbelievable'' and noted if he had kicked straight he "would have kicked 10 (goals)''.
"He really took the game by the scruff of the neck,'' Dangerfield said.
Walker's supreme display was Carey-esque.
The number crunch. Source: Supplied
With the former North and Adelaide star — regarded as the greatest key forward to play the game — watching from the stands, Walker put on a show.
Carey described Walker's display as worthy of the three Brownlow Medal votes and his fellow Triple M radio commentator Brian Taylor joined Brown in noting there were shades of Carey in the way he took control of the game.
Walker was targeted by his team-mates inside 50 a round-high 15 times and the Crows scored from 80 per cent of the attacks which went through him — the best percentage in round one.
Apart from beating opponents Joel Tippett, Scott Thompson and Michael Firrito in one-on-one contests, Walker ran them off their legs.
He showed no signs of the knee reconstruction that destroyed his 2013 season and sidelined him for the first eight rounds last year.
Nine of his 15 marks were taken inside Adelaide's attacking 50m arc but six were taken outside of it, including two in the Crows' defensive half.
Walker, 24, has never looked fitter and his ability to cover the ground justified his off-season decision to get miles into his legs rather than build himself up any more physically.
Port Adelaide defender Jackson Trengove joined the chorus of Walker backslappers after his mighty round one showing.
"I watched him in the first half and he looked awesome,'' said Trengove.
"His game excites everyone, I don't think there is any person who could say they don't like watching Taylor Walker play."
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