Goalkicker Taylor Walker’s two-game suspension is a significant blow as Adelaide seek to establish their AFL finals credentials, Crows defender Ben Rutten says.

The Crows and Walker opted not to challenge his two-game ban for a sling tackle which dazed Geelong’s Harry Taylor last Saturday.

“It looks almost like the perfect tackle,” Rutten said on Tuesday.

“But the AFL, and rightly so, are trying to take care of the head.

“And whether it’s intentional or not, if you hit the head, I think players are well aware it’s a no-go zone.”

Walker, the competition’s highest goalscorer with 23, will miss key games for third-placed Adelaide against Carlton and Collingwood.

“He has obviously been kicking a lot of goals and been a really good target for us,” Rutten said.

“But Tippo (Kurt Tippett) is up there and we saw a bit of what Josh Jenkins can do – Shaun McKernan will be available this week as well so, hopefully, we have got some depth there to cover him.

“But obviously it will be a big loss.”

The Crows, with a six-one win-loss record, travel to Melbourne to meet Carlton on Sunday, with the Blues smarting from their four-goal defeat to St Kilda on Monday night.

“St Kilda just had some great pressure on them and moved the ball pretty quickly,” Rutten said.

“I think we can probably learn a fair bit out of that game.”