Toast Sam Walsh Rnd 4 Rising Star Nominee

[HARKER]

Prior to draft, i believe the only concern about Walshy was his kicking disposal. Up until now I can't spot any problem in this area, in fact I reckon it has been excellent.

His kicking wasn't the issue some reported it to be. Not through the Champs at least.
His worst kicking came from his left leg and not his right. I made mention on plenty of occasions last year, that he seemed to be learning to kick on his left when at times he didn't have to and when his colleagues may not have done so.

Walsh was just a player that many wanted to see flaws in and then somehow exaggerated what they were and then on the other hand, heightened the traits of others beyond reasonable assessment. This is what I saw last year. It was interesting.

 

[Blue and Blue]

I assume people just didnt see a highlights reel of a Maserati in him and turned away from the Rolls Royce.
Sam is like nobody I have ever seen in Navy Blue at this age.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I knew we had someone special after the comment made by GC recruiters after their selections. Something along the lines off, ‘guys we should be very happy we just bought Rankin into our club’. The mood in the room was obvious disappointment.....i though it was interesting at the time.

 

[HARKER]

I knew we had someone special after the comment made by GC recruiters after their selections. Something along the lines off, ‘guys we should be very happy we just bought Rankin into our club’. The mood in the room was obvious disappointment.....i though it was interesting at the time.

It couldn't have been disappointment as they would have been well aware that Carlton were taking Walsh.
I think that many played things up just a little knowing that cameras were on them and maybe some played things down for the same reason.
Not all are comfortable being filmed, nor do they have to be.

Even if Rankine, Lukosius or Smith become to be seen to be the better players in time to come, Walsh is the type that adds more to the whole than just for on-field pursuits. Anyone coming to the club from here on in won't need coaches to address standards. All they have to say is, 'Just do what he does'

 

[Sector 7G]

Walsh seems to now have picked up the pace of the game. Early games his disposal was rushed as he didn't didn't use the ball well. Now being much more effective with the ball in hand and is not rushed when disposing of the ball. always looks composed with ball in hand.

 

[El Topo]

It was instructive to see Walsh in comparison to BF favourite Bailey Smith the other day. Smith is a serious player and (IMO) would have gone top three in the previous year's draft, but Sammy 'Subzero' Walsh is just ridiculous.

 

[Stefchook]

Don't know how much Judd has seen of this draft class. But he's already calling Walsh and Rozee 'generational' players.

 

[thylacine60]

and walsh is doing it in a wooden spoon side.........

 

[Mr_Plow]

and walsh is doing it in a wooden spoon side.........

We're 15th and climbing...

 

[thylacine60]

oh my giddy aunt.......

 

[LemmingMaster]

Don't know how much Judd has seen of this draft class. But he's already calling Walsh and Rozee 'generational' players.

Wait till Rankine starts, he is next level as well.
Then you have the three top end talls developing in 4 years as well.

 

[bmaurizio]

and walsh is doing it in a wooden spoon side.........

If he were at the Pies, Cats or Tigers, Sam's average possessions tally would be over 30 touches a game easily, so accomplished and well prepared for the big time, haven't seen a youngster like him in quite a while, reminds me of Selwood and Judd type of early impact.

 

[mediumsizered]

oh my giddy aunt.......

Is her vertigo playing up again?

 

[thylacine60]

you dig it the most, msr........

 

[no. 4]

With another 24+ possession game against the Bulldogs I believe Walsh is the only player in VFL/AFL history to have had 24+ possessions in each of their first 5 games.

 

[BIGGUS 64]

Personally I couldn't care less what the Rozees, Rankines, Lukosiuses, Smiths, Joneses, etc do with their lives and careers. They could be guns, arguably better or worse than Sam in the final analysis, win more awards, provide more "x-factor" (such a ****ing cliche these days, OMG) - time will tell, but I don't give a toss.

The point is we got it right in drafting Sam. He was the right choice for us, the player we needed. Not just a talented junior whose talent has made him arrogant, no - he will continue to learn and develop because he wants to. Sam doesn't leave a stone unturned, not a conditional bone in his body. He's a machine, he trains and plays the house down, rain, hail or shine. He is not just a star in the making but has already set himself to be a loyal Blue for life. To quote the song: He will never let us down.

 

[Love the Drake]

Love Sam Walsh. Determined little fella that he is. When the boys around him mature watch out! He’ll go to a completely different level..

 

[thylacine60]

he knows he's in the real stuff now........

 

[Love the Drake]

he knows he's in the real stuff now........

And loves it

 

[Opine]

Love Sam Walsh. Determined little fella that he is. When the boys around him mature watch out! He’ll go to a completely different level..

meh, he'll be a better good ordinary footballer than he is now.

 

[Jabba73]

meh, he'll be a marginally better good ordinary footballer than he is now.

 

[thylacine60]

this sort of baptism will only forge an even better player than the super-tanked freak he might have been.........

 

[mediumsizered]

Will win a Brownlow Medal shortly after Cripps does.

 

[Stefchook]

Unfortunately he won't win the Rising Star, unless there's some big form turn around of the rest of the team. It's just too hard to really shine, when the rest of the team is struggling.

 

[Jabba73]

Unfortunately he won't win the Rising Star, unless there's some big form turn around of the rest of the team. It's just too hard to really shine, when the rest of the team is struggling.

Would have thought it made his efforts more admirable.

Then again, we don’t have a happy history with this award ...