News Walker up and running, with round one the aim

[Aphrodite]

Looking forward to Round 1


http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/blue-walker-up-and-running/2009/03/11/1236447306369.html

HAVING endured the frustration of repeated popped shoulders, it was with cautious optimism that talented Carlton midfielder Andrew Walker got through a VFL practice match last week and now shapes as a chance to return for round one.

Walker played about 40 minutes for the Northern Bullants last weekend.

Should he recover well from training yesterday he will play for Carlton against West Coast in Bunbury at the weekend

If those gradual steps in recovery are taken, Carlton will apply for him to be given leave to play for the Bullants in their practice match next weekend, leaving him open to be selected for round one.

Walker, who was enjoying his best pre-season at the club, including matching captain Chris Judd in time trials, sustained yet another shoulder problem.
He did not require surgery but focused on strengthening the muscles around the joint

 

[TheKITC]

Like the sounds of that

He did not require surgery but focused on strengthening the muscles around the joint

Really like the sounds of this.

I really believe the only thing that will stop him from having a great season, a breakout season, will be injuries. The timing and everything else is right for him to make a big impression and to match his best pre-season ever with his best season ever.

I wonder if he can have the season we all know he is capable of, whether or not some BF 'experts' are able to acknowledge so....

Cannot wait for rd 1

 

[DamoESP]

I can bet you one thing, he wont be playing against West Coast in Bunbury on the weekend..the best he will be doing is playing against Fremantle in Bunbury on the weekend


EDIT: In other news, thigs sounds ****en great!! Can't wait to see him lining up with our boys in Blue again

 

[blues4flag]

Had better stay up and running...

 

[gbatman]

hope he plays and is able to help us own richmond in round 1.

 

[gotigers01]

Good luck to walker, i hope he is there for round one, im coming down from the gold coast and want to see two close to full strength teams round 1. I believe that both our teams look good for finals this year, i still feel that both carlton and richmond need a little more depth to be premiership contenders. An injury or two to key players i.e richo, lids for us and probably judd, fev for you guys would bring us back to the pack for sure(lets hope this doesnt happen)
Good luck for the season ahead hope we get a good close game round 1!!!!

 

[lily of laguna]

By all accounts Judd really took AW under his wing this pre-season.

Lets hope Judd has helped him learn to protect himself in the contest (amongst other things), cos a fit AW is going to add so much to the blues this year!

Wow an injury free AW and a injury free Hadley will be make a huge difference to the team

I know its still preseason but it is hard not to get excited about our inclusions this year!

Walker, Hadley, Houlihan, Robinson, Yarran, Johnson and Warnock and Garlett when they are ready. All can add a little more of what we were lacking last year and help us crack the 8.

Go Blues

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

By all accounts Judd really took AW under his wing this pre-season.

Let's hope this is true, as Walks has the chance to be anything if he can stay fit.

For mine, the most exciting prospect that we have drafted this decade. Interesting saying that in a comparatively weak draft. Watching his highlight reel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNZ7iBwNDO8) makes you think about how damaging he could be. Really, could play a CHF-type role if he wanted too, his athleticism would make him an excellent lead up target, and he kicks with penetration.

Managed 20 touches a game last season, despite what I suspect would be reduced game-time and a good 9 months off of footy.

IMO, belongs in the forward line as a HFF, and cannot wait to see what he gets up to this season.

Match reports from Bunbury are a must!

 

[Aphrodite]

Let's hope this is true, as Walks has the chance to be anything if he can stay fit.

For mine, the most exciting prospect that we have drafted this decade. Interesting saying that in a comparatively weak draft. Watching his highlight reel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNZ7iBwNDO8) makes you think about how damaging he could be. Really, could play a CHF-type role if he wanted too, his athleticism would make him an excellent lead up target, and he kicks with penetration.

Managed 20 touches a game last season, despite what I suspect would be reduced game-time and a good 9 months off of footy.

IMO, belongs in the forward line as a HFF, and cannot wait to see what he gets up to this season.

Match reports from Bunbury are a must!

I can't wait for your report BluTouch

 

[Chism]

Good luck to AW and a fit AW is a great asset to the team. Hopefully this is the last we hear of his injuries.

 

[Beloved]

I've got mixed emotions about this one. Of course, I want to see him back and streaming down the Wing with the boys, but for the last few games of 2008, I felt quite stressed watching him play due to his troublesome shoulders. I just really, really don't want to hear of another AW injury.

 

[Warsaw]

I've got mixed emotions about this one. Of course, I want to see him back and streaming down the Wing with the boys, but for the last few games of 2008, I felt quite stressed watching him play due to his troublesome shoulders. I just really, really don't want to hear of another AW injury.

I'll break down and cry if it happens again.

 

[BlueBelle]

Walks is very important to our structure and is shaping up to be a wildcard for us this year.

His versatility allows us to play him through the midfield, up forward but can also play down back if needed.

Fingers crossed that he remains injury free and has a ground breaking year!

 

[Jeremias]

I'd love to see Walks line up on a half-forward flank in round 1 vs Richmond.

Seeing Bowden go to him and try play his unaccountable crap would be great.

 

[bleedblue]

Andrew walker is a f-ing legend if he doesnt get injured he will dominate, very big if tho.

Come on walks get up there you are my favorite son.

 

[Alpha1]

It would be lovely to have him back.

 

[40yearBLUE]

The club has Tex listed now as 93kgs 190cm. We seriously have not seen Tex give what he is capable of for 2 reasons, injury and the fact that even if never injured he would only be coming into his own now, he is only 23.

The player who he most reminds me of is Kouta. He was 191cm and 98kgs. He played for a number of years before he was aclaimed as the champion he was (he was in our 95 GF side and I felt he was BOG), in fact he played 50 games in the 2's before being given his run in the 1st team but his break out year was 2001 when he was 28 years old. He was without doubt the best player in the AFL in 01 and would have propelled us into the grand final if he was not injured. He lost nearly a year of footy and was never quite the same but he played up until 01, nearly 7 years of relatively injury free footy.

Tex seemed to have had his injury front loaded into his career, perhaps he will now have a run of injury free footy where he can stamp his name on the game. I feel he has all the attributes and just has to do stay injury free to become a champion. What a team we are building here.

 

[Blue_Ninja]

^^^I didn't realise that Kouta was so old in 2001.......But wasn't it worth the wait!
I really hope that Walker can make the next step this year, and knowing that it took even Kouta that long to deliver gives us hope, we have all known for a very long time what Walker is capable of, and it is very impressive to say the least. If you need evidence of his talent all you only have to look at his first game. On top of that natural talent he has added a high fitness level, strength and a little bit of aggression.....what a fantastic combination for a footballer......if he stays injury free I think that there will be one very happy coach and 15 very worried AFL coaches in 2009.........He will be an important part in No.17......

 

[40yearBLUE]

I remember Kouta used to do this.

 

[ESKIE]

I remember Kouta used to do this.

Wow that's amazing, truly looks like Kouta...

May he have an injury free year..

 

[Blue_Ninja]

For a little whiole I was trying to see how Walkers head had been photoshopped onto a picture of Kouta.....then I realised........