Crows plan Walker talks!

[Allefgib]

bingo. he's built like a key position player but often plays like an opportunist. he's got to be better than that.

I've been saying it for years (so arguably he should be past it by now...) but you have to remember Tex grew up as a boy playing aginst meat axe men in broken hill.

He probably needed to play 'clever' to survive, as opposed to crashing and bashing with a 16yo body against guys who love to run around on a weekend just for the fun of hurting people.

Once he grows into his body he'll be fine. We've seen his body work in one on ones before.. he oozes class.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Gee, there's a lot of pessimism in this thread.

All this talk about "he's gone, don't even play him, I can't enjoy watching him slot goals knowing that he's definitely gone" is a mile premature. I remember people on here calling for us to drop Tippett to the SANFL until he agreed to sign a contract.

It's a long season, guys, and it isn't going to get sorted any time soon. You should probably all take a deep breath and try not to let a media-driven hysteria get the better of you.

Obviously Trigg feels that what Walker is doing is distinct from what Tippett did, so much so that hes publically commented on it.

Excuse some of us for drawing the obvious conclusion that this is indeed different.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

I wonder if Walker and his manager are starting to already feel a bit nervous with the emergence of Mckernan and what he had to say in the paper today.

 

[Bovo]

Obviously Trigg feels that what Walker is doing is distinct from what Tippett did, so much so that hes publically commented on it.

Excuse some of us for drawing the obvious conclusion that this is indeed different.

The Walker thing is unsettling. Even if he does decide to move on, I think we should still play him if he is in our best 22. It is no different to Adelaide United playing Dodd when he wants out. This year we concentrate about winning this year, and that means playing our best 22 (if of course he is in our best 22).

If we are unable to make finals....well that is a different story. I hope he stays...but my gut is saying another sad good bye.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

The Walker thing is unsettling. Even if he does decide to move on, I think we should still play him if he is in our best 22. It is no different to Adelaide United playing Dodd when he wants out. This year we concentrate about winning this year, and that means playing our best 22 (if of course he is in our best 22).

If we are unable to make finals....well that is a different story. I hope he stays...but my gut is saying another sad good bye.

Makes the finals and legitimately winning the Grand Finals are very different.

If we are a legitimate premiership chance, then yes, you have a very valid point but if we're just making the numbers up and he's indicated he's gone - then no, he's not playing.

 

[MickyCrow]

My money is on him staying. He's 20yo, a KPF as others have said if he has a breakout year his contract value will rocket. Smart business sense.

He loves the club, loves the boys and I just cant see him leaving

 

[SkulZ]

Hey guys just wanted to know what happened with Tippett's contract talks last year? As I recall he was strongly linked to GC. Did his manager also put off talks til the end of the year?

 

[WALL-e]

Tippett signed a two year extention at the end of last year. This extension is on top of the remaining year (last year 2010) he had on his contract. He is now contracted until the end of 2012.

 

[Elite Crow]

I wonder if Walker and his manager are starting to already feel a bit nervous with the emergence of Mckernan and what he had to say in the paper today.

Actually i think it's the test they wanted. I reckon one of Texs concerns is his past treatment. If Smack emerges and pushes him to the Sanfl then why would he want to stay? There are plenty of teams that need forwards, I dont think it will come down to dollars but opportunity, the issue GWS maybe offering big dollars and opportunity. Their draw back is location and team success.

 

[Cap]

Sorry McKernan has played alright in two 20 minute qtrs and all of a sudden he is replacing tex?

yeah right.

 

[jenny61_99]

Hey guys just wanted to know what happened with Tippett's contract talks last year? As I recall he was strongly linked to GC. Did his manager also put off talks til the end of the year?

Yes. And as with Tex, he was pronounced by many in here that he was "gawn" - all before a ball had bounced in anger.

 

[afc1991]

I reckon one of Texs concerns is his past treatment. .

Has there ever been any hard evidence of this... I see a kid who played 18 of 22 games last year, some good, some average, some rather poor... yet he only missed 4 games- oh the humanity!

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I worry that a year of constant speculation over his future is going to have a negative effect on Walker and the team.

I know Tippett obviously seemed to take things in his stride in 2009 and the team had a pretty good year but looking at other clubs it seems that it can be a divisive and distracting factor.

St Kilda and Collingwood breezed through the last couple of seasons and it seemed as though all their key players were signed up and committed. Geelong's weren't and it showed.

 

[Elite Crow]

Has there ever been any hard evidence of this... I see a kid who played 18 of 22 games last year, some good, some average, some rather poor... yet he only missed 4 games- oh the humanity!

You need to look beyond the games played, look at time spent on the bench and time played out of position. There has been enough media focus on his treatment for some of it not to have rubbed off on him. Because of this media attention unfortunately Craig has had to publicly defend his position by highlighting concerns with Walkers game. Last year he missed 4 games when we had a shit load of injuries. An injured and out of form Burton was selected in front of him and when Burton was out he didn't replace him, Henderson did.

Add all that up and the fact he is still a kid, adored by the media and public and perhaps still a little immature it would be understandable rightly or wrongly that he feels he has been treated harshly.

 

[Huntercrow]

I wonder if Walker and his manager are starting to already feel a bit nervous with the emergence of Mckernan and what he had to say in the paper today.

ADELAIDE forward Shaun McKernan has issued a challenge to Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker - "I'm coming after your spots".

The Crows' latest exciting key forward prospect said he was no longer content to walk in their shadows and was ready to make his mark on the AFL.

I like the guy but talk is cheap!
He has the chance in the remaining NAB cup games to put it beyond doubt.

Smack had a great 1st round in the MMC but if he wants to be taken seriously by the people who matter (his team mates, captain and coach) he really needs to consolidate.
If he can achieve this then by all means attack Walker and Tippet.
Otherwise....STFU

 

[cmndstab]

To be fair, he almost certainly didn't just come out and declare it like that. It's a headline.

 

[Huntercrow]

To be fair, he almost certainly didn't just come out and declare it like that. It's a headline.

Yeah you're right Stab, but as one of his biggest supporters to me this article made him look flippant.
After all.... it was only NAB cup.

Shaun's manager (whoever that might be) should be advising him to keep a low profile and let his achievements do the talking.
I believe in my humble opinion that he could be better than Tipp or Walker and I say that with respect.
He seems to have the ability and pedigree to make a name at AFL level, but seriously to do this he should act less like "Hulk Hogan" and more like "Cliff Young" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Young_(athlete)


Disclaimer:
(Mind you, I have nothing against the Hulkster).

 

[cmndstab]

The thing is, I don't reckon he came out and said "I'm going to be better than Walker and Tippett" as such. I think it's more that he recognises there are only limited tall forward spots, and that he needs to aim high to get a gig up there.

It's how he must think if he wants to play as a forward in our squad, no point saying "I'm a worse player than the current forwards but hopefully I'll get lucky". Of course, the media thrives on flashy headlines, so it gets turned into a headline at his expense.


Certainly though I agree - it was just one NAB Cup match. Sellar looked like a world destroyer against Collingwood a couple of years back. He needs to do a lot more to earn his place in our best 22, but it was certainly a big step in the right direction

 

[Huntercrow]

Yes I remember that game in Dubai, and I still think Sellar would be better in the fwd 50 but anyway, I feel it could be Smacks time and after the doldrums of Noaurlunga for the past 2 years perhaps it's time that he played at the MCG in front of 40000 people instead of 73 Camrys parked around the boundary.

 

[Allefgib]

Just found and read the article.

Good on him. He's obviously had a gutful of playing in the SANFL and wants to play in the AFL. He is letting everyone know how hungry he is to play in the AFL side (even as a sub if it comes to that - and I don't think that's a bad option atm tbh).
He is letting everyone know he has the confidence in himself that he could deserve to play in front of Tips/Tex.

Throw out the team security and play the guys based on form and their merits - that's all Shauny is asking.

 

[sbenno]

My reading of the comment (which was disputed by some others here) was that it implied that Walker was not interested in entering negotiations right now. Presumably this is because he believes his worth will be greater towards the end of the season than it is now.

That's what I would have thought as well. Makes sense.

 

[Vader]

Yeah you're right Stab, but as one of his biggest supporters to me this article made him look flippant.
After all.... it was only NAB cup.

Shaun's manager (whoever that might be) should be advising him to keep a low profile and let his achievements do the talking.
I believe in my humble opinion that he could be better than Tipp or Walker and I say that with respect.
He seems to have the ability and pedigree to make a name at AFL level, but seriously to do this he should act less like "Hulk Hogan" and more like "Cliff Young" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Young_(athlete)


Disclaimer:
(Mind you, I have nothing against the Hulkster).

The AFC would have put him forward as their "player interview of the day/week", following his good performance in the MMC games on Friday night. As cmndstab duly noted, the rest is probably journalistic spin on answers to (leading?) questions.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Actually i think it's the test they wanted. I reckon one of Texs concerns is his past treatment. If Smack emerges and pushes him to the Sanfl then why would he want to stay? There are plenty of teams that need forwards, I dont think it will come down to dollars but opportunity, the issue GWS maybe offering big dollars and opportunity. Their draw back is location and team success.

I disagree. Walker is holding out for money, not love and I cant blame him one bit. But it is also a risk. He could easily settle now for a very healthy contract above odds of what he is worth from Adelaide. Or he can bank on having a breakout year and increase his earn. But it could also blow in his face if he has a quiet start to the year and Mckernan forces his way in infront of him. And let me tell you, as a South supporter who has seen him play plenty of times, Mckernan is going to be a gun. I also said it about Otten and there were plenty of doubters on here.
The pressure is slowly building on Walker. It creates an interesting rivalry scenario within the team. Who is Craig going to show more love to? I promise you it would be on Walkers mind. Any ultra competitive person would be feeling it.... I hope Mckernan has a blinder this year!

 

[Freddy Bassett]

The thing is, I don't reckon he came out and said "I'm going to be better than Walker and Tippett" as such. I think it's more that he recognises there are only limited tall forward spots, and that he needs to aim high to get a gig up there.

It's how he must think if he wants to play as a forward in our squad, no point saying "I'm a worse player than the current forwards but hopefully I'll get lucky". Of course, the media thrives on flashy headlines, so it gets turned into a headline at his expense.


Certainly though I agree - it was just one NAB Cup match. Sellar looked like a world destroyer against Collingwood a couple of years back. He needs to do a lot more to earn his place in our best 22, but it was certainly a big step in the right direction

He was a highly decorated junior with a champion brother who he grew up idolising. Do you think he would be happy with his time at the Crows so far? He would believe he is better than Tippet and Walker and he picks up the paper and all he reads is all this Walker talk about GWS. He would be a pumped unit and fed up of being out of the limelight. And he knows if he doesnt make an early impact its back down to Noarlunga for another year of pumpings....

 

[fabs33]

He seems to have the ability and pedigree to make a name at AFL level, but seriously to do this he should act less like "Hulk Hogan" and more like "Cliff Young".

Then compare him with Muhammad Ali. But in all seriousness, like others have said, we don't know exactly what was said, just that which the journalist wanted us to know. The fact that he seems confident despite a bad year last year should make us happy.