Adelaide have refused to guarantee Taylor Walker will remain with the Crows next season despite the embattled AFL veteran being contracted.
An “emotionally-drained” Walker has taken leave from the club after he was suspended for six matches for making a racist comment about North Adelaide player Robbie Young at a SANFL game last month.
The Crows’ all-time leading goal-kicker earned a contract for 2022 after a hot start to this season, but his playing future is now unclear.
“We haven’t distanced ourselves from Taylor, we’ve distanced ourselves from the comments – racism has no part in our club, the AFL industry and the community,” Crows chief executive Tim Silvers told SEN SA.
“(Walker’s) contracted for next year but we need to understand how that looks and how he can reintegrate back into the group for next year.
“It’s too early to guarantee that (he will play for the Crows again) but he is contracted and we’ve got to work through it with a number of different people.”
It comes after Walker appeared with Young in a short video, released by the Crows on Monday, as he apologised for using the racist slur.
Young showed support for the 31-year-old Walker by patting him on the shoulder.
Walker, a former Crows captain, has kicked 489 goals during his 220-game career.
Meanwhile, Adelaide have confirmed they will part ways with Tom Lynch at the end of the season after not offering the experienced forward a new contract.
The 30-year-old has been an important part of the Crows’ forward line since arriving from St Kilda before the 2012 season.
Lynch enjoyed his best seasons when Adelaide were in deep finals contention between 2015 and 2017 but has kicked just six goals in eight games this year.
He booted 42 goals in 2016 and finished with a career-high 10-goal haul during a game against GWS in 2013.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks hailed the contribution Lynch has made as a member of the Crows’ leadership group during the past five years.
“Tom has been described as ‘The Connector’ and it is a good description of the influence that he has had on and off the field, which has been significant,” Nicks said.
Lynch said he was hoping to add to his 162 career games before the end of the season and would soon decide if he is to try and play on a different club next year or retire.
AAP
