Taylor Walker has recommitted to the Adelaide Crows signing a contract extension until 2018 After a frustrating year on the sidelines with an achillies injury, Adelaide skipper Nathan Van Berlo 's hard work away from the field has paid dividends. Taylor Walker will be in colours until the end of 2018. TAYLOR Walker has made the easiest decision of his interrupted AFL playing career - passing up free agency next year to sign a three-season contract extension at the Adelaide Football Club. And now new Crows coach Phil Walsh is considering the strong support the star forward has among his teammates to become Adelaide's next captain. Do you think Rory Sloane and/or Patrick Dangerfield will re-sign with Adelaide? Walker today did as he has long promised - ignore big money and opportunity elsewhere to stay on Adelaide's books until at least the end of the 2018 AFL premiership season. He is the first of the "Big Three" at West Lakes - Walker, Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane - to sign contract extensions to give Walsh less concern while building Adelaide's next premiership outfit. "It's an easy decision ... why drag it out," Walker said while tearing up his free-agency pass that according to North Melbourne premiership defender David King would have brought offers of more than $1 million-a-season. It was a really easy decision. I'm happy to sign. "I love Adelaide," added the Broken Hill recruit. I love this playing group. I love this club that has been great to me, from a 17-year-old. Walker starts season 2015 after a confidence-boosting year in which he proved all his hard work in rehabilitating from a serious knee injury that wiped out the majority of his 2014 season has major rewards. It may also lead to the captaincy with Walsh today declaring the his 87-game key forward has all the attributes to be an AFL team skipper. Walsh also revealed the process to finding Adelaide's new leadership group has begun. Voting among the players started yesterday with Walsh noting "Taylor is highly regarded by his peers." Walsh also noted Walker has one of the key attributes he wants from a captain - a leader who thinks "what is best for the team." Walker kicks his first goal in 2014. Walsh has decided on a second round of voting for a six-man leadership group after taking feedback from the players that the criteria he set in Monday's vote needs to be broadened. The second ballot will be tomorrow (Wednesday). There will be a solo captain. Walsh today corrected him stance on how the captain will be chosen by him alone. He acknowledges the Adelaide Football Club board makes the final call - and will continue that system after taking Walsh's recommendation. "And we will make that public at some stage," Walsh said while not locking in a date for the captaincy announcement. Walsh also has declared he wants Adelaide's captain to be committed to the club. Current captain Nathan van Berlo has a contract. Walker has extended. Sloane is expected to sign shortly. But Dangerfield is more likely to wait until his free agency options are fully explored, particularly with Geelong. This will probably deny him the captaincy. Walsh today acknowledged Dangerfield's position is "hard to call." "I'd rather it be done earlier ... but it may take longer; it is what it is," Walsh said. Originally published as Crows lock in Tex Walker