Crows confident Walker, Jacobs fit to play Dogs

ADELAIDE has dismissed injury worries over captain Taylor Walker and ruck Sam Jacobs, who could miss Friday night’s AFL game against Western Bulldogs to be at the birth of his first child.

Walker (glute tightness) and Jacobs (back spasms) both reported injuries in the Crows’ last-minute loss to Port on Saturday, although both played out the game.

Adelaide backman Daniel Talia said he expected both to be fit to face the Dogs at Adelaide Oval, though Jacobs’ availability depends on when his wife gives birth.

His wife Izzy is due to give birth mid-week.

“He has come out and said if she goes into labour, he will be there,” Talia said yesterday.

“It’s a pretty common thing these days, put family ahead of one game of footy. It will be their first child and a pretty special moment for Sauce.”

Back-up ruckman Reilly O’Brien, 22, is on standby to replace Jacobs should the birth happen on game day.

“He’s a really good ruckman who is ready to go, so if Sauce happens to go out, we have a like-for-like replacement,” Talia said.

He expected Walker to play the Bulldogs — the skipper kicked a 60m goal in the final minutes despite being troubled by glute tightness on Saturday.

“He is good,” Talia said. “He kicked that 60m goal — judging by that kick, it can’t be too bad.”

The fourth-placed Crows hold a 5-3 win-loss record but are just one win ahead of the 13th-placed Bulldogs.

“It’s going to be another real big test of our contested footy and a real pressure game again,” he said.