Adelaide’s Taylor Walker capped off his career resurgence with a maiden All-Australian honour for his stellar 2023 campaign on Wednesday night.
The 33-year-old returned 76 goals – a career-high – in 2023, beating out his previous best of 63 majors in 2012.
While Walker was one of the most dominant forwards of the 2010s, he saw his output decline in the back end of the decade as he kicked just 15 goals from 14 games in 2020 as it looked like he was nearing the end of his career.
Tim Watson has been ultra-impressed by the veteran’s career resurrection, and he feels clubs could have gotten the forward on the cheap in a trade deal when he was at his lowest.
He discussed if clubs would be regretting not targeting him the Crow in 2020 with Garry Lyon on SEN Breakfast.
Lyon: “Walker was named at centre half forward.
“Unbelievable story, I’m really impressed by Taylor Walker.”
Watson: “He’s had a resurrection as a player.”
Lyon: “It’s great to have watched him play so well.
“But he was in a massive hole when he had the (body) issues.”
Watson: “Even before that, his form at a time - and it coincided when Adelaide were poorer too and they weren't getting the ball there quickly in the forward line and all that type of thing.
“But at that time, I wonder how many clubs are now looking back and thinking, ‘We could have actually gone a little bit harder maybe to try and get him’.”
Lyon: “Packet of chips you would have got him for.”
Watson: “At that time, I think you could have recruited Taylor Walker quite easily.”
Lyon: “No doubt.”
Watson: “You wouldn't have had to give up that much at all at all.”
Lyon: “No doubt at all.”
Watson: “That would have been one of the great recruiting moves of all time.”
Lyon: “He would have looked good in a Melbourne jumper, wouldn't of he?”
Walker remains contracted at Adelaide until the end of the 2024 season.
He has played 260 games for the club and kicked 612 goals since making his debut in 2009.