Toast Tex 700 goals around the corner

[John Who]

Congratulations to Taylor Walker for having such a great individual season; capping it off last night with a sensational 9.4; making Eagles legend Jeremy McGovern look second-rate in the process; and being selected in the All Australian team for the the first time in his career. (I'm jumping the gun there by a few days, but he's definitely in and it's long overdue!)

I've always read a lot of negative crap about him here on Big Footy. Probably from butt/hurt Port fans mostly, or from the "my sh*t doesn't stink" types who think he should've been buried in a hole in a the ground cos he used a racial slur. I'm not excusing that. He's a rough diamond... a bogan country boy from Broken Hill who has made a few regrettable blues along the way.

Speaking as an opposition fan with no real hate or love for the Crows, Tex has always been one of my favourite AFL players to watch. I loved his style from the day I saw this big, loping kid with a crude mullet boot 5 goals vs the Hawks back in his debut season in 2009.

One of the great entertainers and a champion of the game. Underrated, I think., A little bit undersold here in Melbourne.. A great mark... a beautiful kick... One of the best kicks ever... Like Carey or Buddy the way he'd unload drop punt bombs through the middle from 65m. People always went on about Stevie J's ability to kick around corners. How good is big Tex at curling goals around the corner from the boundary line? Like shelling peas!

But not just mark & kick... He's a superb forward craftsman who plays with great poise and positioning. With great awareness of what's around him and the state of the game. Standing up in the big moments and getting his team across the line... Moments of team-oriented genius, like in the 2015 finals vs the Bulldogs at the MCG; when he got the ball on the MCC members' half forward flank, with the goals beckoning... But instead of having a ping like 99% of players would've done in that situation, he blind-sided everyone with a 50m centred pass to a teammate standing all on their own. (Eddie or Charlie, I think it was.)

Or just little things.... like one of his goals last night in the 4th quarter. I think it was his 7th or 8th... the way he turned, got front & square, roved the ball cleanly off hands and in the blink of an eye, he'd dribbled it through for a goal. Luke Breust or Cyril Rioli would've been proud of kicking that one. You can't teach that to a key forward. That's natural ability.

It's been a while since I was yelling with excitement at my TV screen, punching the air and cheering on an opposition key forward like it was a Hawthorn player. It was like a flashback to the 1990's when I'd watch in awe as Plugger or Carey took over a game and booted a big bag of goals.

Well played Tex, you magnificent bastard.

Well said! Tex is a genuine magnificent bastard! He sure ain’t perfect as a person, but if you’re a footy purist and you genuinely love your footy, then you should love what Tex brings to the game (on-field).

Not many I can think of that is essentially a full-on ambidextrous player that can kick 65m bombs on either feet and 25m handpasses on either hands. And with precision.

 

[Back One Out]

Well said! Tex is a genuine magnificent bastard! He sure ain’t perfect as a person, but if you’re a footy purist and you genuinely love your footy, then you should love what Tex brings to the game (on-field).

Not many I can think of that is essentially a full-on ambidextrous player that can kick 65m bombs on either feet and 25m handpasses on either hands. And with precision.

Yeah, spot on... That's the bit I forgot to mention... A perfectly dual-sided footballer... Equally good spinning to his right or left.
Beautiful kicking off either foot and rocketing his handpasses off the left and right.

As a purist, I loved watching Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Scotty Pendlebury. None of them would win any footraces. Special players who always found time and space to work their magic. Tex Walker is, in some ways, the key forward version of that. Not a super athletic beast like Buddy, Richo, Pavlich, Nick Riewoldt, etc... Kinda slow... Doesn't get any separation, yet he still finds a way to out think and outmaneuver his opponent and make good decisions.

 

[Crowman32]

I remember talking to a couple sanfl players at different times years ago who played on tex and funny enough they had the same story.

Tex as an 18 year old in the sanfl would turn around and tell them remember the name taylor walker

13

Taylor Walker

Age

35

Ht

192cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.7

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

1.6

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.6

5star

because in a few years time everyone will know my name.

This was just the confidence he had in his ability from day 1.

He was always going to be a star at afl level.

 

[John Who]

I love that he is bringing up 500 one season, and potentially 600 the next!

And 700 the next?

It started as a running joke, but by golly, it could really happen!

I think he was the only multiple goal scorer in the last match against GWS, so his form is still up to standard. Currently on 653 goals. Go Tex!!

 

[Dirty Bird]

I remember talking to a couple sanfl players at different times years ago who played on tex and funny enough they had the same story.

Tex as an 18 year old in the sanfl would turn around and tell them remember the name taylor walker because in a few years time everyone will know my name.

This was just the confidence he had in his ability from day 1.

He was always going to be a star at afl level.

impressive for a Mr Irrelevant.

Best Mr Irrelevant ever in an AFL Draft?

 

[Dirty Bird]

It started as a running joke, but by golly, it could really happen!

I think he was the only multiple goal scorer in the last match against GWS, so his form is still up to standard. Currently on 653 goals. Go Tex!!

i think he has 1 more year left in him

But in a Thompson/Smith role. SANFL with a few games to finish on 300/01 with a big farewell

 

[AFC979810]

i think he has 1 more year left in him

But in a Thompson/Smith role. SANFL with a few games to finish on 300/01 with a big farewell

Let's just wait and see.

Bloke is 10th in the Coleman and 8th in the league for Goal Assists despite taking a massive backseat the first two weeks.

He has one of the highest footy IQ's of all time and we just need to be smart about his usage.

 

[Samcro24]

The last year Thompson / smith thing is not a role. It’s a pension

 

[NSolis]

Feeling to me like he's going around again next year as well, unless he has an injury setback or a big drop-off in form. He's the same age this year that Jack Riewoldt was in his last season, and next year will be the same age as Hawkins in his final year. He's certainly looking better than those guys were in their final seasons, and there's no question he's worth his spot right now.

Team performance will be a factor as well.

 

[1990crow]

If hes best 22 and performing he keeps playing.

 

[Carn The Texan]

If hes best 22 and performing he keeps playing.

Yep. He's still got enough core strength and mobility to compliment his elite ball usage and footy IQ. If he keeps this up for the rest of the year he gets a contract to play on and I can't see how anyone could have a problem with that. He won't be on top dollar and he's still a difficult match up whether he gets the 1st 2nd or 3rd key defender on him.

 

[Cromulant]

Like last year, he'll be one of, if not the last to sign on.

The cliff can come quickly, but hes looking pretty handy still.

 

[crows dude]

Long way to go in the year. But on Average goals for the season. Fog and Thilthorpe are in line for 60 goal seasons. Tex 50. keays 40+. Thats if they keep at the current rate

 

[dylan123]

Would suspect the numbers drop a bit for all key forwards when the conditions start to drop but loving Tex's output as always.

 

[Scorpus]

I think he will get 300 games but won't get 700 goals

 

[119others]

I think he will get 300 games but won't get 700 goals

All depends on whether he goes on next year though? Agree he won’t get to 700 this year as still needs 47 goals in 20 games or less (above his goal averages for this year and overall for 5 years)

I can’t see why Tex doesn’t go on next year at this stage. He is still performing and is very reliable on a weekly basis (perhaps more so than TT and Fog even). Had this discussion with 1970crow and Cromulant on the weekend when they preferred Curtin to play over Tex. If we are fair dinkum as a club about winning games now to make finals Tex plays every day of the week before Curtin.

 

[Scorpus]

All depends on whether he goes on next year though? Agree he won’t get to 700 this year as still needs 47 goals in 20 games or less (above his goal averages for this year and overall for 5 years)

I can’t see why Tex doesn’t go on next year at this stage. He is still performing and is very reliable on a weekly basis (perhaps more so than TT and Fog even). Had this discussion with 1970crow and Cromulant on the weekend when they preferred Curtin to play over Tex. If we are fair dinkum as a club about winning games now to make finals Tex plays every day of the week before Curtin.

We'll see how the back half of the season goes and whether his body holds up.

He'll probably need to play another 30-35 games to kick those 47 goals. Which is all 17 remaining H&A matches this year plus most of an additional year

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

Guy feel says he’ll finish in the 690’s

 

[Betts are off]

I've stopped trying to make this prediction. I hope for his sake (and the teams) that he plays well all year and gets another season on Merit. And then the 300 games and 700 goals take care of themselves.

But this winter will be very telling

 

[George CantStandYa]

Guy feel says he’ll finish in the 690’s

What does feeling Guy have to do with it?

 

[ams4crows]

All depends on whether he goes on next year though? Agree he won’t get to 700 this year as still needs 47 goals in 20 games or less (above his goal averages for this year and overall for 5 years)

I can’t see why Tex doesn’t go on next year at this stage. He is still performing and is very reliable on a weekly basis (perhaps more so than TT and Fog even). Had this discussion with 1970crow and Cromulant on the weekend when they preferred Curtin to play over Tex. If we are fair dinkum as a club about winning games now to make finals Tex plays every day of the week before Curtin.

We do have two games against West Coast where he could easily kick like 16 in those two games, that leaves 31 in 18 games which to be fair is some what manageable

 

[119others]

We do have two games against West Coast where he could easily kick like 16 in those two games, that leaves 31 in 18 games which to be fair is some what manageable

Now that would be nice re Weagles. But in fairness to Fog and TT they probably need to share in the feast this year. Definitely can see us kicking over 20 goals (perhaps 25-30 goals) against the haplesss Eagles. They are in a world of pain as a footy club and would have to be favourite to be bottom 2 for the next three years IMO

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Having Tex in the side helps TT and Fog in some ways. And even at 35 goals in a season, he is more than handy.

At least one more season please Tex, and kick your 700th in your 300th game!

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

I can see it now

Adelaide Oval, round 23, crows down by 5 in Tex's 300th game vs the pies.

20 seconds to go, Rankine sizzles the ball in to Tex on the lead 50m out, slight angle. Letting loose from 60, Tex sends it mid post height for his 700th goal to win it by 1 point for the crows!

 

[1990crow]

I can see it now

Adelaide Oval, round 23, crows down by 5 in Tex's 300th game vs the pies.

20 seconds to go, Rankine sizzles the ball in to Tex on the lead 50m out, slight angle. Letting loose from 60, Tex sends it mid post height for his 700th goal to win it by 1 point for the crows!

Tex could kick his 700th in his 300th game.