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TOP SIX SECURED! Retiring star leads Crows to September as injury carnage emerges Adelaide has locked themselves in for a second straight September appearance, crushing GWS in a proper, old-fashioned shootout by 56 points on Saturday night. A nine-goal first quarter put the game to bed very early at Adelaide Oval, with the Crows amassing a final score of 24.13 (157) to trump the Giants’ 15.11 (101). Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Star veterans Taylor Walker and Jake Stringer troubled the scorers all night for their respective clubs, kicking half a dozen goals each in an exceptional display in front of the big sticks. For the eighth game straight, Izak Rankine was simply unstoppable for Matthew Nicks’ side, finishing the night with four goals of his own from 35 disposals as the hosts piled on the pain for GWS In a sour blow for both sides, both Sam Taylor (concussion) and Zac Taylor (hamstring) were ruled out for the remainder of the second half. Adelaide goalkickers: Walker 6, Rankine 4, Keays, Thilthorpe, Fogarty 3, Rachele 2, Cumming, McAndrew, Curtin GWS goalkickers: Stringer 6, Cadman 2, Hamilton, Greene, Brown, Gruzewski, Rowston, Madden, O’Halloran THE 3-2-1... 3. CROWS WRAP UP TOP SIX SPOT AS STRINGER STRIKES, RANKINE MAINTAINS CAREER-BEST It required a big favour from the Western Bulldogs on Saturday evening, but the Adelaide Crows will officially play September football for a second year straight. Heading into Round 24 sitting in seventh, Matthew Nicks’ side needed one of Geelong, Hawthorn or Melbourne to lose as the favourite side in their respective clashes — and it was the latter who slipped at the final hurdle. Their 21-point loss to the Bulldogs meant that the Crows needed merely a win to lock in a top six spot, which after a nine-goal first term, never really looked in doubt. Spearheading the hosts’ comfortable win were retiring star Taylor Walker and Izak Rankine, with the duo combining for the first five majors of the Crows’ night. Rankine’s last six weeks heading into Round 24 were the best by an Adelaide Crow since Patrick Dangerfield all the way back in 2015, with that streak undoubtedly to continue off the back of his opening term alone. His eight disposals, four score involvements and two goals before the first break lit the Adelaide Oval up, with onlookers out of their chair with his second major in particular. “I think it will be the best quarter in terms of rating points for the year. 19.6 rating points in a quarter of football — unbelievable! He just didn’t waste a possession,” King said at quarter time. “He’s just become a totally different player now that he’s gone in as a bonafide midfielder. It’s changed the look of their ball use … he’s been terrific.” Crows legend Mark Ricciuto added at half time: “He had the ball on a string … he was everywhere. “He’s probably surprised he isn’t getting tagged, and maybe they need to keep doing it to get back into this game, GWS.” As for the hosts, out-of-contract veteran Jake Stringer was outstanding with six majors in his 250th game at the top level as he eyes off playing for a fourth AFL club in season 2027 — most likely back in Victoria. His captain Toby Greene was electric, but wasteful in front of goal during the first half as the duo ended up carrying too big a burden to force any meaningful charge after half time. 2. CRUEL BLOW ENDS STAR’S SEASON… AND POSSIBLY YOUNG CROW’S TOO A crushing concussion to Sam Taylor in the early minutes of Saturday night’s fixture ended an injury-affected 2026 season for the star defender in unfortunate scenes. The 27-year-old was on the receiving end of an unfortunate Riley Thilthorpe knee to the head in a marking contest, which subsequently saw him fail a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) conducted after coming from the ground. While not as serious on the surface, Taylor’s history with concussion will have caused a shudder through the Giants camp. Two seasons ago, the key defender was involved in a scary incident which left him unresponsive and with blood spilling from his chin after a hard-hitting collision with then-St Kilda captain Jack Steele. A quarter after his exit, his rival namesake Zac Taylor came from the ground with a hamstring injury that threatens to — at the very least — disrupt his September chances. The 23-year-old forward half roleplayer has played every Adelaide home-and-away game since his inclusion to the senior side in Round 3 against Geelong, having kicked 13.5. 1. RETIRING GREAT GETS WHITE-HOT EARLY IN H&A FAREWELL After returning to the senior side for the first time since announcing his retirement, it was no surprise that the Adelaide Oval packed out in full force to see their club’s greatest-ever goalkicker one last time in a home-and-away season. Taylor Walker was curiously rested for last Friday night’s Round 23 clash against Fremantle, but picked up right where he left off in the month leading up to his resting — kicking three of Adelaide’s first five goals in vintage fashion. The 36-year-old ran through the banner with more than a dozen ex-teammates greeting him, as he ran out with his kids in AFL game 317 with plenty more to give. “Pre-game, it was all about Tex! He had about 15-20 ex-teammates in the guard of honour. They all said: ‘Kick me a goal’ – and that’s exactly what he did!” four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne said at quarter time. “He went to work, and as Ricciuto said, it doesn’t matter — left foot or right foot. “He had the five disposals, four score involvements and three goals … he’s on fire. He tried to take a hanger; I’m not sure what you’re doing up there Tex!” A clinical snap on his left foot got things underway on the scoreboard for the Broken Hill product, before slotting his third goal with a set shot after a mighty high fly that was rewarded by the in-zone umpire. Walker bagged his fifth major of the night halfway through the third term — his third bag of five this year. 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