It comes as a shock to many because Patrick Dangerfield was considered a lay-down misere to be captain if Adelaide were to make a change, and if not him, another young and courageous combatant with natural leadership skills in Rory Sloane. Much less likely Scott Thompson for a last hurrah. But Tex? With utmost respect, and by his own admission, Walker, born on Anzac Day, 1990, doesn't come across as the sharpest tool in the shed. Spectacular high flier, beautiful kick for goal, terrific player, fierce competitor and one of the nicest blokes off the field you could possibly meet, but not, well ... overly bright. He himself jokes of his classroom struggles at Broken Hill Primary. Yet, talk to his previous coaches Neil Craig and Brenton Sanderson, everyone within the team support staff and especially his teammates and without question every one of them rates Walker as one of the most intelligent people around when it comes to the school of football. His ability to readily absorb and understand game plans and read the play and patterns of the opposition is regarded as special among the Crows. New coach Phil Walsh calls it a gift. Talk to every forward at Adelaide and they will tell you how he directs the play; he tells them where to run and what to do. Tex inspires those around him both on and off the field with his unquestionable passion for the game and an amazing desire to be a better footballer; he is an amazing leader.

This appointment is another subtle sign of Adelaide's newfound courage to dare to be different following the appointment of a rugby chief, Andrew Fagan, as its CEO, sacking Sanderson with two years left on his contract, and poaching Walsh from across-town rival Port Adelaide as his replacement. Fagan and Walsh are no fools; they would not have made this decision without conviction or knowing it was the right one. Walker, who has played 84 AFL matches and kicked 197 goals since joining the club through the NSW scholarship program in 2007, signed a new deal late last year keeping him at Adelaide until 2018. He was elected by his teammates to be part of a new six-man leadership group, from which Walsh chose Walker as captain. As a young lad in the media scrum so delicately put it during Walker's media conference, "... he's not as polished as other club leaders", but Walsh quickly stepped in. "I want this to be an authentic footy club; as simple as that," the coach said. "I don't want to be about spin. Actions speak louder than words and that is what the Adelaide Football Club will be about this year." Tex smiled when questioned whether he had what it took to handle to commitments and public pressures that go with being a captain. "I am not a real fan of the media, but we will get there. I will try to school myself up and get a bit better."

The appointment obviously intensifies the debate on whether Dangerfield – a free agent at the end of the 2015 season – and Rory Sloane will remain at Adelaide. No one, including the players, knows the answer, but whatever the outcome no one could deny Walsh showed courage to make this call to pick the player he thought would make the best captain and not use it as a veiled incentive to stay around and thus put the player ahead of the club. Besides, we shouldn't under-estimate the passion and commitment Dangerfield and Sloane share for the team and their respect for Walker despite their obvious disappointment. During the conference someone asked Walsh if he saw a bit of himself in Walker, both having been country boys. Walker chipped in: "He's not that good looking". to which Walsh responded: "Careful, careful, Tex." As trivial as this may seem, it was the clearest sign yet that everyone was now enjoying their footy at West Lakes. Either that or Tex is a better actor than Chuck, but then ...