ADELAIDE skipper Taylor Walker has expressed his gratitude to former Crows coach Neil Craig for being hard on him early in his career.
The Crows skipper will play his 100th senior game on Saturday against the Sydney Swans, and has long been a lock in the club's best 22.
But it wasn't always that way.
Walker struggled to cement a place in the side early on his career, with Craig dropping him to the SANFL on numerous occasions to work on his defensive game.
Walker said while the treatment was annoying at the time, in hindsight he thanked the coach for teaching him valuable lessons.
"He was always onto me about my defensive sort of stuff, and I think I've got it to a level now where it's consistent," Walker said.
"At the time you think 'why can't I just play' because that's what you want to do, but now you look back and think it's a great learning curve.
"Being able to play 100 games for a footy club I grew up barracking for and one that I love, I'm excited and looking forward to it.
"I actually saw a photo the other day of when I first got to the club – [I was] skinny, tips in your hair, and how times have changed."
As well as Craig, Walker thanked the likes of Brett Burton for his mentoring early in his career, and veterans Scott Thompson and Nathan van Berlo for their leadership advice this year.
After overcoming a knee reconstruction last year, Walker is gradually working himself back into prime form.
The 25-year-old has been unhappy with his 37-goal season to date but, as skipper, he's more focused on the performance of his side.
"My form isn't at the standard [I want] as an individual, but I'm still playing my role for the team just as we ask the other 21 blokes to do," he said.
"I've been working closely with 'Teaguey' (forward coach David Teague) and 'Campo' (Scott Camporeale) to get back to where I want to be."
The Crows will fly to Sydney to take on the Swans later in the week desperate to maintain their spot inside the top eight.
With just six games remaining, Saturday's clash shapes as a crucial encounter as Adelaide strives to return to finals football for the first time since 2012.
Walker played a massive role in getting the Crows to the 2012 preliminary final, kicking five goals in a come-from-behind win over Fremantle in the semi.
He said he's desperate to again play footy throughout September.
"I'm going into my eighth year, and as funny as it sounds time does run out – it's gone by so quick," he said.
"You try and tell the young kids that some people don't even play finals, let alone get close to an AFL Grand Final.
"For us, we just need to keep playing the Crows' way and hopefully that'll lead us to finals – we need to earn the right to play finals."
