Star Crow set to fight 'dangerous act' charge at tribunal
Adelaide star Taylor Walker will take his one-match rough conduct ban to the tribunal on Monday night.
The key forward pushed Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan into a marking contest during Thursday night’s game, causing Crows captain Jordan Dawson and Cats player Mark O’Connor to come crashing to the ground.
Taylor Walker shoves Connor O'Sullivan into a contest. Fox Footy
All three players were sore in the aftermath, with a free kick paid against Walker for the shove.
Match review officer Michael Christian graded the incident as careless and medium impact, leading to the one-game suspension.
Adelaide will likely attempt to argue the action was not a reportable offence, which would see the charge dismissed.
During the 2025 pre-season, West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey escaped a suspension for a very similar shove that ultimately broke Richmond midfielder Sam Lalor’s jaw.
However, Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd is “hot” on the issue and hopes the AFL continues to stamp it out of the game.
“I’m massive on it. I’ll admit, I used that tactic back when I was playing and you could do it, but the cause for injury is huge,” Lloyd told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“You know as a forward what you are doing. I was big on that one at the time, the Ginbey one, and I’m as big on this one.
“I think he deserves his week and I hope that week stands because I think it is one of the more dangerous acts in football.
“He cannot play this week. Doesn’t matter who it is. I’m dead strong on it. The chance of injury is massive.”
Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane argued with Lloyd, suggesting Walker’s contact wasn’t forceful enough to warrant a suspension.
“It doesn’t need to me much (force), honestly,” Lloyd replied.
Former Richmond star Nathan Brown added: “It’s not so much the pace of the push, it’s the pace of the player and you flip up very easily with a slight shove.”
Another angle of the Walker shove. AFL Photos
Sloane admitted he was “biased” towards his old teammate, but felt the contact didn’t warrant a suspension.
“I’m mounting a defence of (Walker),” he said.
“I don’t see a full extension of his arms. It’s a really light touch on his back.”
The 36-year-old Walker has played 306 career games for Adelaide and has kicked 13 goals from eight games so far in 2026.
