Walker learns fate for ‘dangerous’ act; Scott’s takedown of Adelaide Oval ‘nuffies’

Updated June 5, 2026 — 5:15pm,first published June 5, 2026 — 1:29am

Adelaide star Taylor Walker has been suspended for one match for rough conduct, as Geelong gun Tom Stewart escaped sanction for a bump from Thursday night’s game.

Walker will miss the Crows’ vital clash against the Western Bulldogs for shoving Cats defender Connor O’Sullivan into a marking contest, an act Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall described as “dangerous”.

O’Sullivan was sent crashing into Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson, and though both played out the game the latter was in discomfort. Match review officer Michael Christian graded the incident as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, resulting in a one-game ban.

Stewart’s collision with Adelaide’s Callum Ah Chee was not deemed to be a reportable offence as he was found to be in a “near stationary position” and had braced for inevitable contact from the Crow. His actions “were not unreasonable in the circumstances”, the AFL said.

Walker played a starring role after being recalled against the Cats to replace the suspended Riley Thilthorpe.

Walker spoke to Seven in Adelaide on Friday before the finding was released and admitted he was concerned.

“I’m nervous but as I’ve said, there was no intention to hurt him,” Walker told Seven.

The incident drew the ire of Australian Football Hall of Fame legend Dunstall.

“I don’t want to see ‘Tex’ Walker suspended because I like watching him playing the game, but if you need to eliminate this act from the game, don’t just worry about the result and whether someone is concussed,” Dunstall said on Kayo Sport.

“Every time someone does this, suspend them. Eliminate that act, otherwise players will roll the dice knowing that if the other player doesn’t get concussed, then you get off.

“There is danger in that. We have to rub that out and suspend everyone who does it.”

David King said at the time of the incident: “That’s an absolute no-no.

“Tex [Walker] is in some bother. There is not a lot in it, but you don’t need to do a lot in that instant.”

Crows coach Matthew Nicks was asked about the incident in his post-match press conference.

Post match, Geelong’s Chris Scott has called for coaches not to have to walk through the crowd after quarter breaks after an incident at three-quarter-time of his side’s nail-biting loss to the Crows on Thursday night.

Scott spoke with Adelaide Oval security as he walked out to the Cats’ huddle after fans he later labelled “nuffies” interacted with him with his side trailing by two points.

While Scott said he didn’t say anything to the fans in qu