Adelaide’s straight-sets finals exit has left more than just bruises on the scoreboard. It has also opened the door to a sobering reality for two of the club’s most experienced campaigners, Taylor Walker and Brodie Smith, whose futures in the AFL remain unresolved.
The Crows’ 34-point semi-final defeat at the hands of Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval was the final act of a season that had promised so much but fell apart when it mattered most. For fans, the disappointment of another campaign that ended short of the ultimate prize is still raw, but for Walker and Smith, the heartbreak is layered with questions about whether they will ever again don the Adelaide jumper.
Both Walker, 35, and Smith, 33, are out of contract. They remain among the most celebrated figures at West Lakes, yet their form in the semi-final loss highlighted the brutal reality of football’s unforgiving nature. With Adelaide regrouping after their first minor premiership since 2017, the coming weeks loom as decisive for two players who have carried the club’s fortunes through years of highs and lows.
Nicks: “It will be a conversation”
Coach Matthew Nicks, who has overseen Adelaide’s resurgence in recent years, admitted after the game that the time had come for frank conversations about the veterans’ futures.
“It will be a conversation,” Nicks said when asked about Walker and Smith. “We’ll sit down with ‘Tex’ (Walker) and a few others and just talk through what it looks like. I love the ‘Texan’. There’s different things that ‘Tex’ brings to our group on a footy field that aren’t necessarily just kicks and marks, and handballs. There’s a leadership component to it. I guess we’ll lick our wounds at the moment, and then we’ll sit down. Similar (with Smith), it will be a conversation.”
Nicks’ words reflected both admiration and pragmatism. He praised Walker’s leadership qualities, his influence beyond the scoreboard, and the intangible presence he brings to a young side still learning how to handle the pressure of September football. But there was no denying the reality: Adelaide needs to make tough calls to position itself for another premiership run.
Walker’s quiet night and Smith’s steady hand
Walker, who signed a one-year extension at the end of 2024 to stretch his career into an 18th season, endured one of his quietest nights on record. Restricted by Hawthorn’s defensive pressure, he managed only seven disposals and two behinds. For a player once renowned for his ability to break games open, it was a performance that underlined the passing of time.
Smith, meanwhile, offered his trademark composure and drive from half-back, collecting 15 disposals. But even his contribution could not mask the questions hovering over his future. At 33, and after more than a decade of service, Adelaide must decide whether his experience outweighs the club’s need to usher through the next generation.
Teammate Wayne Milera admitted the uncertainty over the duo was weighing on the playing group.
“It is quite disappointing on our part for them because we don’t know what their plans are for the future,” Milera told AAP. “That’s the way footy is. They haven’t called time on whatever their careers look like.”
A legacy in question
Walker and Smith have long been pillars of the Crows. Walker, affectionately known as “Tex,” has been more than just a goal-kicking forward; he has been a cultural leader and the face of the club during challenging years. From the highs of leading Adelaide into the 2017 grand final to the lows of off-field controversies and rebuild seasons, his story mirrors that of the Crows themselves.
Smith, equally admired, has been the dependable half-back whose run-and-carry style became a hallmark of Adelaide’s game plan. He has fought back from serious injuries, including a torn ACL, and has remained a consistent presence in the side. For both men, their departure — if it comes this off-season — would represent the closing of a significant chapter in Adelaide’s modern history.
The Crows’ crossroads
Adelaide’s straight-sets exit has left fans and players alike questioning where the club stands. After finishing top of the ladder for the first time in seven years, expectations were high. Instead, their finals campaign unravelled swiftly, raising doubts about whether the squad is equipped to take the final step.
The uncertainty surrounding Walker and Smith’s futures only sharpens the focus on the club’s list management strategy. Do they continue with two veterans who provide leadership and stability, or do they accelerate the transition to younger players who might be the backbone of the next premiership tilt?
The waiting game
For now, Adelaide has chosen patience. Nicks made it clear the conversations will take place in due course, after emotions cool and the season is properly reviewed. For Walker and Smith, that waiting game will be difficult. Both have given everything to the club, and both deserve to finish their careers on their terms. But as every footballer knows, the game often decides for you.
As the Crows move into an uncertain off-season, the question looms large: was Friday night the last time Walker and Smith wore the Adelaide colours?
