Tex’s heart still in the Silver City
This article first appeared on the NSW Australian Football History Society’s website. Check out the site for more great stories and facts about our game in NSW.
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Once a Broken Hill boy, always a Broken Hill boy. And, for that matter, a New South Welshman.
Taylor Walker may have lived in Adelaide almost as long as he did in the frontier NSW mining town, but he still calls Broken Hill home and it’s where he plans to return when his Crows days are over.
Walker topped the voting in this week’s Carey-Bunton medal for the best NSW player in the AFL, with three coaches’ votes in Adelaide’s win over Fremantle, while Cootamundra boy Isaac Smith claimed a single vote in Geelong’s thrashing of Hawthorn. Sydney’s Callum Mills still leads the poll with 11 votes.
On the western edge of NSW, 1100km from Sydney but only 500km from Adelaide, Broken Hill defies borders and is culturally more South Australia than NSW.
So, Aussie Rules is king, and rugby league a minor distraction. It’s West End rather than Tooheys. It’s even half an hour behind Sydney. And playing for the Crows is the dream.
“I grew up barracking for the Crows and it was great to have the opportunity to join them from Broken Hill and play my entire career here,” Walker said.
The town only has four clubs – creatively named Centrals, Norths, Souths and Wests – but punches above its weight and the red dirt has produced over a dozen VFL/AFL players.
They maintain a bond and Walker is particularly close with Isaac Cumming at GWS, a fellow North Broken Hill old boy.
Walker grew up playing for Norths and played seniors with and against some of the toughest men in footy by the age of 16, winning the 2007 flag with the club when he was 17, kicking seven goals from centre half forward in a BOG grand final display well beyond his years. He played for NSW under18s and was drafted by the Crows in 2007 after being signed by the club as a NSW scholarship holder the previous year.
His father Wayne was a local legend, winning four best and fairests in the Broken Hill league, five flags and representing both NSW and SA Country. While ‘Wacky’ was a massive influence, so too was Dale Tonkin, a junior coach and coordinator who took on every role in Broken Hill footy, including taking the kids thousands of kilometres around the country to compete.
“I will always say Broken Hill is home. In saying that, I’ve nearly lived in Adelaide longer than I lived in Broken Hill, but I’ll always be a New South Welshman,” Walker said.
And he’d relish the chance to once again represent NSW.
“I think everyone would love to play state footy. It’s a privilege and an honour to wear the state guernsey, so if they can find a way to get it back I’m sure it would be well received by the players.”
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He’s got a CV worthy of being known as Broken Hill’s most accomplished footballer.
He’ll reach the 250 game milestone this season, is Adelaide’s all-time leading goalkicker with 543 (as of round 4, 2023), captained the club for five seasons – named the AFLPA’s captain of the year in 2016 and 2017 – and has been in the All Australian 40-man preliminary squad three times.
After 15 seasons in the AFL, last year’s form suggested the key forward has plenty still to give, even at nearly 33, but Broken Hill beckons when the time comes. And the young backmen from three other clubs better be prepared.
“That’s the plan, back to the North Bulldogs. I probably wouldn’t be leaving the square though, to be quite honest,” Walker said.
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Carey Bunton Medal voting at Round 4
Callum Mills – 11
Errol Gulden – 9
Jarrod Witts – 8
Dane Rampe – 8
Jacob Hopper – 8
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Bill Mohr Medal (leading goal kickers)
Todd Marshall – 8
Taylor Walker – 7
Charlie Spargo – 6
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Simon Kelly’s Fun Fact -Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide / Deniliquin) who is currently leading the Bill Mohr Medal has kicked at least 1 goal in his last 20 games going back to Round 5 2022.
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