Don’t rush Tex back: Ricciuto

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TO play or not to play — that's the question on everyone's lips this week as Taylor Walker inches closer to his AFL return.

But for me, it's very simple — don't do it big fella.

The Crows and Tex need to think long term and make sure that his comeback from a knee reconstruction is a successful one and not short-lived.

SHOULD WALKER PLAY AGAINST THE DEES?

Let's be realistic — the bloke has only played three quarters of footy against a winless team in the SANFL after more than 12 months on the sidelines.

How can anyone expect him to be match fit or conditioned?

Walker impressed in the SANFL on the weekend. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Think about what AFL teams do in preparation for Round 1. They play between three and four practice games on the back of a full pre-season so they are ready to go.

And these are players who played most if not all of the season before, and didn't do their knee.

So when Chris McDermott in his Sunday Mail column says Walker must return to the Crows team to play Melbourne this weekend, we must stop and take a deep breath.

Let's have a look at a few statistics on knee injuries that may help you come to your own conclusion.

From a study conducted by leading Adelaide knee surgeon and former Crow Matthew Liptak between 1990 and 2000, of 116 AFL listed players who suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, 27 per cent never played at the elite level again.

However 73 per cent did, but the concerning stat is that of those 73 per cent, 28 per cent did an ACL again — whether it was the same knee or on the other leg. That's worse than one in every four players which is a frightening statistic.

LISTEN TO THE ROUND 6 EDITION OF THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST ...

The other issue is that the average players who did an ACL again were taller and heavier than those who didn't. Ruckman and key position players definitely fall into that category.

Another key stat is that 58 per cent of guys who suffered the injury again attempted to return prior to one full year out of the game.

Tex might have returned safely on the weekend but he was still two days shy of the full 12 months so there's even more reason to proceed with caution.

In Tex's favour is that since 2000, the quality of rehabilitation and knowledge surrounding the injury would have improved and I'm certain the Crows medical staff would have provided him with more resources than any of the 116 players mentioned above.

Walker marks in front of Warrick McGuinty in the SANFL Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

I'm not putting these stats forward to scare anyone but just to highlight how important it is not to rush the comeback given one in four players have learnt the hard way.

An ACL injury is very serious and is devastating to the player, the team, the club and supporters. Less than one in two AFL players return to the form they had prior to the injury, in the three years after their surgery.

Tex's injury wasn't a standard injury either. In his words, the damage was more like that inflicted from a car crash.

The good news for Walker is he got through his first big test in the SANFL on Friday night and pulled up terrifically.

His next test should be to play a full game this Sunday in Clare against Port Adelaide in the first state league showdown.

I hope it's wrong on this occasion, but generally footballers are like racehorses in that they can struggle second up after a spell. So don't be surprised if Walker doesn't improve on his three-goal first-up performance.

Walker receives instructions from the coach on the bench. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

From then on, personally I think form dictates his selection at the Crows. Whether it takes a week or a month, Tex needs to dominate an SANFL game and put his knee through all the unpredictable situations that you can't replicate at training without the pressure of performing on the AFL stage.

The unpredictable landings on the injured knee are the hardest thing for players to mentally overcome and once that has been tested then they are good to go.

So when his form is good and his mind is at ease, that's when Tex should make his AFL comeback.

Until then, Josh Jenkins, James Podsiadly and Tom Lynch are doing a good job of holding the fort.

After all, that's what we recruited Podsiadly for. Insurance for Walker so there's no need to rush.

Let's be realistic in our expectations of Taylor Walker in 2014 and not put any added pressure on the big Tex's shoulders. We all want to see him back to his best whether it takes a week, a month or in 2015.

As long as it happens!

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