Get off Walker’s back — Pyke

ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke has made an impassioned plea for fickle critics to lay off his captain Taylor Walker.

While conceding Walker’s form in an injury-troubled AFL season has been down, Pyke says he’s stunned at suggestions the 28-year-old should quit as captain.

Inaugural Adelaide coach Graham Cornes was among pundits this week calling for Walker to step down.

“I heard some of the bits and pieces going around … I struggle with it, to be really honest with you,” Pyke said yesterday. “Three weeks ago, they were lauding him for his performance against West Coast where he basically picked up the team … and dragged us over the line.

“He has a couple of off weeks, missed a game through suspension, and maybe his form is not at the level he wants or we would like ideally.

“But I just reckon there’s a point where you have got to go ‘let the guy play, let him be’.”

Walker has been voted by his playing peers as the AFL’s best captain for the past two seasons but his season has been curtailed by injury.

After being sidelined by a foot injury in pre-season, Walker has missed five games through injury and another because of suspension.

“He’s a great leader of our footy club and has been since I have arrived at the footy club,” said third-year coach Pyke.

“Is he playing as well as he’d like at the moment? Maybe not. But geez, it’s pretty quick to change opinion for people, they jump off pretty quickly.”