Crows skipper has surgery, defender out

Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker has undergone surgery on a troublesome foot, while defender Tom Doedee has suffered a broken collarbone.

Adelaide Crows captain Taylor Walker

Adelaide captain Taylor Walker has had surgery on his foot, as he serves a season-ending AFL ban. (AAP)

Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker has had surgery on the troublesome foot injury that dogged his disappointing AFL season.

Walker, whose season was ended by a two-game suspension for a dangerous tackle on GWS star Josh Kelly, underwent a minor procedure to repair the plantar fascia in his left foot on Monday.

Crows football chief Brett Burton said the club decided to make best use of Walker's season being cut short.

"Importantly, he will be able to complete a thorough rehabilitation program and be ready to go for the start of pre-season training," Burton said.

The 28-year-old managed just 14 games in a wretched season for him and the Crows, who will miss the finals after playing off in the grand final last year.

Walker's 2018 premiership campaign never really got rolling.

He missed round one after he injured the plantar fascia in February, then suffered a hamstring injury and was suspended for a high bump on Geelong's Zach Tuohy.

The club also confirmed on Monday that AFL Rising Star contender Tom Doedee will miss their last game of the season because of a broken collarbone.

But the Crows hope his injury won't hurt his chances of winning the Rising Star award.

The 21-year-old Doedee has filled the defensive void left by Jake Lever's departure to Melbourne at the end of last season.

Doedee is rated with Collingwood's Jaidyn Stephenson as favourites for the Rising Star gong, awarded to a player who on January 1 was aged 20 or below and with fewer than 10 games experience.

"He has slotted in really well," Adelaide assistant coach Scott Camporeale told reporters on Monday.

"Particularly with what Jake was able to do for us last year, they're similar players and probably Jake held him out of the team for the most part of that year.

"His courage and the way he works in that back six especially, and for a young guy to come in and have that sort of influence in his first real year of senior footy has been outstanding.

"I think his performances speak for himself."

Doedee, who was nominated for the Rising Star award in round two, broke his collarbone in a collision with North Melbourne's Jed Anderson during Adelaide's nine-point win on Sunday.

The 12th-placed Crows finish their season with an away fixture against Carlton on Saturday night.


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Source: AAP


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