Crows: we want ‘Tex’ to return

ADELAIDE coach Matthew Nicks says Taylor Walker has “known for a number of weeks” that he wants him at the club next year.

Nicks gave the clearest indication that Walker will be at the Crows in 2022 at Adelaide’s Club Champion award night on Saturday.

Walker’s future at the club was under a cloud, despite him being contracted for next year, after he was banned for six matches for using a racial slur about North Adelaide’s Robbie Young at a SANFL match.

At the Convention Centre, Nicks paid tribute to the career-best seasons by Walker, Rory Laird, Ben Keays and Paul Seedsman this year.

“And we will need all four of you next year,” he said, at which much of the crowd in the room burst into applause.

On Tuesday Nicks said it “was a deliberate statement”.

“Tex has known for a number of weeks, he has known he has my support right the way through,” Nicks told Triple M.

“I think people make mistakes. He has learnt from that and he has done some amazing work over the last month in repairing relationships, working with people to make a difference.”