Taylor Walker is due to make his return to AFL for Adelaide’s Round 4 clash against Essendon this Sunday.
The key forward and former Crows captain was involved in a racism scandal late last season that resulted in him being suspended for six matches.
Walker has served his time and has since apologised for his actions saying he was embarrassed, ashamed, and remorseful for the hurt he caused.
Dual Adelaide best and fairest Rory Laird said he can’t see why Walker wouldn’t return this weekend.
“I think Texan should come back in, I don’t see why he wouldn’t, he’s done a stack of training and a stack of weights, and you know he’s completely fit, and his body is fresh so I don’t see why he shouldn’t play,” Laird told SEN SA’S The Run Home with Kymbo & The Rooch.
Laird also provided an update on half forward Lachlan Murphy, who was involved in a heavy collision late in last week’s win against Port Adelaide, which resulted in him needing to leave the field.
The 23-year-old made his return in Round 3 after he had an operation in December on a bulging disc in his neck. He walked off the ground assisted by trainers with seconds remaining in the fourth term.
Murphy is currently being assessed, but Laird thinks he’s “okay”.
“He’s usually the most loud in the room but he was a bit quite after the game. I think he was a bit rattled by it (the tackle). He obviously came back a lot sooner than he thought with that whole surgery and that process, and it was a pretty big hit in the end,” Laird said.
“I think he’ll be okay though, I think he’s fine.”