Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks was full of pride as he spoke about how retiring star Taylor Walker has impacted the club.
Walker announced on Monday that the 2026 season would be his last at AFL level with 316 games and 706 goals to his name so far.
Speaking on AFL 360 on Monday night, Nicks said Walker was a larrikin who has had to re-invent himself late in his career.
"(Retirement) was an ongoing discussion probably for six or seven years to be honest," Nicks said on the show.
"Each year he would just keep re-inventing himself. To his credit, it was a massive challenge. A lot of people didn't understand the challenge he went through. Former captain of the club, they were on the door step of a premiership. They were the best team in the competition by a mile for a couple of years and they didn't quite get it done.
"In 2020, when I arrived at the club, it was a real big challenge for him to embrace that we were rebuilding. As any really strong leader does, he evolved, he worked on then how to make younger players better, how to prioritise his teammates. I'm that proud of what he went through.
"If anything Tex passes the pub test he is an absolutely cracking bloke."
When reflecting on what his veteran key forward means to the club and state of South Australia, Nicks said Walker will comfortably sit among the greats.
"Last night was one of those nights where you think of all the things you have gone through with Tex," he said.
"Sitting beside him today, the emotion, I knew it would be an emotional day there because he just wears his heart on his sleeve.
"He's a footy icon. He will be as big as anyone that has come through, you think about (Andrew) McLeod, (Mark) Ricciuto and (Simon) Goodwin and these sort of names. Taylor Walker is one of the biggest names to have come through this footy club and this state."
Walker finishes his career with one All-Australian, seven leading goal kicker awards and two AFLPA Best Captain awards.
The Crows will look to celebrate their star veteran with the club's first flag since 1998.
Adelaide currently sits in fifth and remains in the hunt for a top four spot.
