Adelaide Crows legend Taylor Walker announces 2026 AFL season will be his last

Adelaide Crows great Taylor Walker has announced the 2026 AFL season will be his last, saying he hopes to end his career as a premiership winner.

The Crows today announced the veteran of 316 games would bring an end to his playing career, where he has kicked a club-record 706 goals to date.

Affectionately known as Tex, the 36-year-old told media after the announcement that the decision to step away had been "probably the hardest one of my life".

"I knew it was the right time for me and the football club that I retire at the end of the year, hopefully with a premiership cup or a medallion around my neck," he said.

"I don't want to be that player that goes that extra year or probably outstays their welcome.

"The closer I've got to the end, it's probably become a little bit more evident that it might be this year, but I've sort of treated it like my last year for the past six years."

Walker was drafted by the Crows in 2007 and made his AFL debut during the 2009 season.

He captained the club from 2015-2019, where he was twice named the AFL Players Association Best Captain in 2016 and 2017. He also led the Crows to the 2017 grand final, the club's most recent appearance in the sport's biggest game.

Today Walker was asked about one of the low points in his career — when he was fined and suspended for using a racial slur in 2021.

The Crows great described the incident as the "one thing I wish never happened".

"That was an incredibly difficult time for my family and I, and I suppose the biggest thing I learnt was that words don't just hurt one person, they can hurt so many different people, and I feel like I'm a better person for that mistake that I made," he said.

While Walker's sights remain firmly fixed on the remainder of the season, he said his hometown of Broken Hill had been very much in his thoughts as he looked both back and forward.

"I grew up barracking for the Adelaide footy club. It was my dream. I had Crows posters all through my room as a little kid," he said.

"I've said to my two best mates that are still playing back in Broken Hill that I want to go and try and win a premiership back there, so we'll try and do that next year."

The Crows currently sit fifth on the AFL ladder, level on points with fourth-placed Brisbane on percentage.

Adelaide travels to Perth for a Friday night blockbuster against ladder-leaders Fremantle, then hosts GWS in the final round of the home and away season at Adelaide Oval.