1. Andrew Walker

[Jeremias]

Hi all.

Over the next month I will be starting threads to discuss each of the carlton listed players, including rookies.

Number 1 is Andrew Walker.

Taken as a number 2 draft pick, expectations were always high of the kid that reminds some of a young Anthony Koutoufides. Took 5 games before he made his senior debut, and what a debut it was vs the eagles at Optus Oval. 26 possessions and a leap that would have got anyone excited. Earned himself a NRS nomination for that round. Took a while before we saw something great again, but has really started performing over the last 12 months and it was certainly worth the wait.

Walks has been one of our best players this year, playing mainly off the half back flank. Has really bulked up and is becoming a man. Kicking is still suspect at times, but his skills are mainly very special and a treat to watch. Is really coming on as a player, and will continue to improve and blossom into a fine player for many years to come.

Post your thoughts on Walks and his future in this thread.

Thread on player number 2, Jordan Russell to come tomorrow.

 

[SA Blue]

Great idea!

The main thing I have liked about AW game this year is the increase in confidence he seems to have. He always has had talent, but talent is a loaded term and thrown around too much. This year he seems to have the confidence in himeself and his place in the AFL. Hopefully this will continue to grow and he will become an elite player in the AFL.

 

[kouta 4 president]

Theres not much you can say about Andrew Walker i suspect everyone will be saying basically the same thing. Hes gonna be a good player, possibly captain, and we all hope hell continue to grow and get better

 

[OZBomb]

The Kouta comparison is accurate. Much like Kouta, how good he will be will depend on his ability to improve his kicking, particularly when running at speed, and pulling down contested grabs.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Nah, only one Kouta.
I'll go on record to say that at his best, he was the best footballer ever to play the game. Real damn shame about the knee injuries because you would all be talking about him like that. Could play everywhere and was unstoppable. But sorry this is about Tex.

 

[blues4flag]

I expect huge things from Walker, and has really impressed me this year. Without a doubt my favorite player, and hopefully he can continue to develop and become one of the best.

 

[pumped]

Nah, only one Kouta.
I'll go on record to say that at his best, he was the best footballer ever to play the game. Real damn shame about the knee injuries because you would all be talking about him like that. Could play everywhere and was unstoppable. But sorry this is about Tex.

Have to agree. There is only one Kouta and I think he is the most gifted player to have played the game. However whilst the knee injury has hampered him I believe his mind has stopped him from realising his potential to be the best ever. Had Kouta the mental toughness of Voss or Buckley he would have been so much better than either of these guys.

Walker has much ability but also needs to toughen up mentally. He has undoubtably improved in this area but has slipped a little of late. His one grab marking has to improve aswell. Rare talent though.

 

[Teagueeee15]

The Kouta comparison is accurate. Much like Kouta, how good he will be will depend on his ability to improve his kicking, particularly when running at speed, and pulling down contested grabs.

I agree with your comment on his foot disposal, but i should add that while he gets virtually the same distance on either side of his body, kicking is more of a problem on his left side than on his right side.

 

[flidge]

I personally think that he needs to bulk up, so he's more suited for playing in the centre and on the ball as opposed to on the wing and half-back flank; leave that to the less talented players. He's certainly got talent and a future midfield of Walker, Murphy, Blackwell and Gibbs is very enticing!

Personally, as a number two draft pick, hasn't really lived up to the expectations that were placed on him when he was drafted. Look at Cooney and Ray at no.1 and no.4, Sylvia and McLean at no.3 and no.5

 

[Jeremias]

I personally think that he needs to bulk up, so he's more suited for playing in the centre and on the ball as opposed to on the wing and half-back flank; leave that to the less talented players. He's certainly got talent and a future midfield of Walker, Murphy, Blackwell and Gibbs is very enticing!

Personally, as a number two draft pick, hasn't really lived up to the expectations that were placed on him when he was drafted. Look at Cooney and Ray at no.1 and no.4, Sylvia and McLean at no.3 and no.5

Walker has done more than both ray and sylvia. cooney is the best, followed very closely by mclean. walker is next, but is still a way behind them. ray is next, and sylvia is last.

 

[audas]

Um, the guy is unbelievable. He is not able to perform like the others mentioned as he is not ALLOWED to by our senile coach. He plays a specific role and is obviously told not to do otherwise.

Kouta had some pack busting performances however this was more often than not due to his pure size as physical dominance and athletisism rather than pure football skills. He even admits this. He was no where near the talent of someone like Carey.

For mine walker already shows much more skill than Kouta ever did, he uses what physical condition he has better and so when he fills out will be incredible.

But he will only ever be the as bright as he is allowed to shine and right now the dimmer switch is well and truly set to low.

 

[Kooley]

I personally think that he needs to bulk up, so he's more suited for playing in the centre and on the ball as opposed to on the wing and half-back flank; leave that to the less talented players. He's certainly got talent and a future midfield of Walker, Murphy, Blackwell and Gibbs is very enticing!

Personally, as a number two draft pick, hasn't really lived up to the expectations that were placed on him when he was drafted. Look at Cooney and Ray at no.1 and no.4, Sylvia and McLean at no.3 and no.5

what the hell has farren ray done to have him in front of walker

 

[blues76]

ummmm im still not 100% on walker yet....bout 90% for now...his kicking lets himself and the team down...very mobile and is a good size but the kicking...... just a bit worried about it. its something gun players dont need to improve on and something so critical comin out of the backline. but i love watchin him play and hope he goes on....

 

[doormat11]

goodnes me, are we not being a little fussy about a 20 yo player who has got another dozen years to show us how talented he is??? We already know he can play footy, Pagan has used him in the back line to great effect, Paul Roos arranged for him to be taken to the full back line in the Sydney game to reduce his effectiveness from half back. Tex is fully aware of the fact that he will only improve as a player by learning the defensive side and we can only hope he'll end up as a more than classy winger who can attack and defend his side of the ground. Who gives a rats about Ray, Sylvia and the like? Tex is more than holding his own and has only grown into his role as a consistent player at Carlton. I'm sure there's more to come and should we ever get another coach then who knows where Tex will line up? By the by, some of you are aware that Kouta's disposal by foot was very ordinary when he started playing footy, he very quickly improved and any comparison to Buckley and Voss is unjustified. Kouta is Kouta, not many athletes have turned into super players like him...just ask Leigh Matthews who he'd like to have a 'team full of' for all round brilliance.
Stay tuned for Brad Hardie's great suggestion last night with regard to new coaching structure at Carlton.

 

[FieryNayta]

Its taken him a while to arrive as a consistent player at afl level, but i think he's finally there.

Not that its taken him that long as hes still a young man, but after that debut everyone expected it be be alot sooner for him.

Ive enjoyed watching him this year and his run out of defence has been terrific and laced with a very promising confidence.

Will hopefully be a long-term player for us, and will give us a few more high leaps along the way! go walks!!

 

[kouta 4 president]

Not that its taken him that long as hes still a young man, but after that debut everyone expected it be be alot soone for him.

Yeah your right. The first match I saw Walker play he was playing so well. Then he just sort of slowed down and kept playin well, but not as well as his debut.

 

[Lapp_46]

I am a big Walker fan. I think his pace off the half back line is slightly remanicent of McLeod (lets not get too far ahead of ourselves though). What really disapoints me about Walker is that his disposible is HORRIBLE. He turns the footy over half the time he gets it. It really hurts the team...

 

[TheBlueblood]

Im sick of the WAlker -Kouta ..

Lets face the facts Kouta was a machine in 2000-01 but got knee wrecked.. imo cost him a brownlow and us a flag

Walker is a footballer with a burst of pace rarely seen in afl( deledio,judd) and any CFC supporter knows this . But as a footballer he needs to know where to kick it and our current lack of plan has him stufffed and in the the end he burns off the backline and looks up (NOTHING TO KICK TO)

Watch him in the next year or so!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pumped]

Um, the guy is unbelievable. He is not able to perform like the others mentioned as he is not ALLOWED to by our senile coach. He plays a specific role and is obviously told not to do otherwise.

Kouta had some pack busting performances however this was more often than not due to his pure size as physical dominance and athletisism rather than pure football skills. He even admits this. He was no where near the talent of someone like Carey.

For mine walker already shows much more skill than Kouta ever did, he uses what physical condition he has better and so when he fills out will be incredible.

But he will only ever be the as bright as he is allowed to shine and right now the dimmer switch is well and truly set to low.

Entitled to your opinion but have to question your references to Carey and Walker having more skill than Kouta. You are correct to suggest that pack busting performances were due to his size and athletisism. However his best games were not just because he busted through packs. In these games he showed great instictive ability to find the ball, evade opponents and find teamates with rare skill.

Further Carey whilst highly skilled had probably more physical size than Kouta anyway. The size and athletisism angle hardly proves Carey was more skillful than Kouta. As to Walker I do not believe he has shown enough yet to suggest he is more skilled than Kouta. He is athletically gifted and has shown skills but not at Kouta's level.

 

[pumped]

goodnes me, are we not being a little fussy about a 20 yo player who has got another dozen years to show us how talented he is??? We already know he can play footy, Pagan has used him in the back line to great effect, Paul Roos arranged for him to be taken to the full back line in the Sydney game to reduce his effectiveness from half back. Tex is fully aware of the fact that he will only improve as a player by learning the defensive side and we can only hope he'll end up as a more than classy winger who can attack and defend his side of the ground. Who gives a rats about Ray, Sylvia and the like? Tex is more than holding his own and has only grown into his role as a consistent player at Carlton. I'm sure there's more to come and should we ever get another coach then who knows where Tex will line up? By the by, some of you are aware that Kouta's disposal by foot was very ordinary when he started playing footy, he very quickly improved and any comparison to Buckley and Voss is unjustified. Kouta is Kouta, not many athletes have turned into super players like him...just ask Leigh Matthews who he'd like to have a 'team full of' for all round brilliance.
Stay tuned for Brad Hardie's great suggestion last night with regard to new coaching structure at Carlton.

My reference with regards to Kouta, Buckley and Voss was not related to how they play the game. It was purely related to the respective mental outlooks of the 3. In my opinion Kouta has not produced as much of his potential as Buckley and Voss have. I believe that these 2 will go down as more productive footballers over their careers than Kouta. However I believe Kouta to be more gifted than both as a footballer aswell as an athlete.

 

[BlueBelle]

Once he starts playing on the ball and his disposal becomes cleaner, he will be as good as Chris Judd!!

 

[kouta 4 president]

I think that might be a bit of an over-statement but yeah when he can kick he will be good

 

[BlueBelle]

I don't think it's an overstatement at all. The kid has got class!!

 

[whippety boy]

He kicked really well on both sides of the body yesterday.

 

[The Grover]

Walker has much ability but also needs to toughen up mentally. He has undoubtably improved in this area but has slipped a little of late. His one grab marking has to improve aswell. Rare talent though.

I don't agree he needs to toughen up mentally, he would have to be one of the more tougher players mentally at Carlton, hence why he gets the big jobs on opposition big guns.

He is always niggling at opposition player & seems to get under their skin.

He'll be a very good player in a better team.