Adelaide coach Neil Craig says speculation about Greater Western Sydney target Taylor Walker is challenging for his AFL club.

The emerging 20-year-old forward has put contract negotiations with the Crows on hold, fuelling speculation he's heading for the new Sydney entity next year.

Craig said the Crows and Broken Hill product Walker would have to live with the speculation.

"Taylor and his management have made it clear to the club what they're doing," Craig said on Friday.

"The last thing Taylor and his management need is to keep getting pestered.

"Until things change I just get on with it really."

Craig said he was powerless to stop the speculation about the key forward, who has kicked 62 goals in 33 games for Adelaide.

"It's a good story, it's a good talking point, I understand all that - but we have quite a few other players out of contract as well," he said.

"At the moment Taylor gets mentioned, but there are other players at our footy club that fall into a similar category that would be, in my opinion, outstanding players for GWS.

"... One of the real challenges of working internally in an AFL club is to keep that sort of thing at bay, because you can't influence it.

"I can't control it, I don't want to control it, I don't intend to control it.

"So you have just got to stay very clear about what you're doing as a group, they have got a task to do.

"And it's a challenge, don't get me wrong, because it's something you have to be able to manage and it's there, it's not going to go away.

"But you have got to get really good about it not being an influence on your decision-making or what you are doing."

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