James Walker Appreciation Thread

[The Night Shift]

10 year Veteran of our list. James was a loyal servant of our club and stuck by us when things were very very gloomy. James Walker a.k.a Grandson is a life member of the Fremantle Football Club. We all thank him and wish him the best for the future. He did deliver our first grand final day triumph of sorts, by convincingly winning the sprint.

James Walker


Fast Facts

Jumper No: 19
Height: 179
Weight: 82
DOB: 1979-01-15
Recruited From: Lake Wendouree/North Ballarat U18
Career Matches: 141 (questionable??) Is a Life member
Career Goals: 13



2007 Home & Away Totals

Matches: 10
Goals: 3
Marks: 52
Disposals: 162
Kicks: 96

 

[Slacker]

Good to see him get some brownlow votes this year.

I remember starting one year very well, being one of our best until injured in a ridiculous Tasmania adventure. Might have been 2005. He was going very well till hurt. Was always a bit bummed about that promising year cut short.

Cheers James.

 

[Cheetah]

Yeah a good servant of the club is Grandson, thanks for the memories.

 

[ImperialPurple]

I have always had a soft spot for Jimmy - I was in Sydney when he played his 100th in 2004. A big bloke was sitting next to my son and me in the General Admission seats at the SCG, and we got chatting. He said he was from country Victoria, but had come up to watch his nephew play, and it was his 100th game. I asked if it was James Walker and he said yep - Long line of Collingwood people in the family, but he loves Freo.

Anyway we got back home, and the next week we were down at training and my son, who was 7 at the time, sees Grandson walking along in his socks (yes, his socks... that has always stuck in my mind... ), coming out from the gym. So he goes up to him and tells him that he was sitting next to his uncle at the SCG, and Jimmy chatted with him about stuff for a good 5 minutes, then said, I'll tell my Uncle Bob you said hi.

My son was chuffed - as was his sister, who was about 4. She came home and drew a picture and wrote "Jime Woka" underneath it and stuck it up on her wall next to her Freo poster. Very cute.

Anyway - it's always sad to see a club stalwart go - I'm glad for him that he attained Life Membership. He gave his all for the club, and I wish him all the very best for the future. I can see him in some sort of managerial role at the club - he does have a Bachelor of Business after all.

Onya Grandson.

 

[Shaymuhz]

grandson was my buddy this year. was stoked that he managed the 10 games for like membership. i remember he kicked a very good running goal in one of the derbies and also shut out judd for a half in a very important role. think he was played out of position at freo and thats why he didnt translate his stunning wafl into the afl.

well done on a great career jim.

 

[summerthebat]

Right on James, you will be missed!

 

[Carl Hooper]

I have always had a soft spot for Jimmy - I was in Sydney when he played his 100th in 2004. A big bloke was sitting next to my son and me in the General Admission seats at the SCG, and we got chatting. He said he was from country Victoria, but had come up to watch his nephew play, and it was his 100th game. I asked if it was James Walker and he said yep - Long line of Collingwood people in the family, but he loves Freo.

Anyway we got back home, and the next week we were down at training and my son, who was 7 at the time, sees Grandson walking along in his socks (yes, his socks... that has always stuck in my mind... ), coming out from the gym. So he goes up to him and tells him that he was sitting next to his uncle at the SCG, and Jimmy chatted with him about stuff for a good 5 minutes, then said, I'll tell my Uncle Bob you said hi.

My son was chuffed - as was his sister, who was about 4. She came home and drew a picture and wrote "Jime Woka" underneath it and stuck it up on her wall next to her Freo poster. Very cute.

Anyway - it's always sad to see a club stalwart go - I'm glad for him that he attained Life Membership. He gave his all for the club, and I wish him all the very best for the future. I can see him in some sort of managerial role at the club - he does have a Bachelor of Business after all.

Onya Grandson.

Great story!

That makes me like him even more!

 

[hoogs]

At the start of the year I went to an intraclub match at Subi with some mates who we're ripping into him. I was defending him, saying that he still had the potential to go well. In the second quarter he was moved to the flank closest to us all sitting by the boundary, where I was yelling support out of the top of my lungs to him. With practically no one there he could hear every word and he duly responded, carving up the field for the next 20 minutes. We left Subi with all of us agreeing that he could figure in 2007. His preseason form gained him some games this year, but he tapered, culminating in a bashing by Brent Harvey, which may well have been his last chance.

The problemw as that IMO, that he had to play so many negating and defensive roles when he got a game, then he'd go back to the WAFL and do well in proactive ball winning roles. Then he'd come back and be given a defensive role and the cycle would continue for the past 5 years.

So, as a supporter of him I am dissapointed that this thread has a reason to exist, but the club must move forward. While he can pick up a few touches, their just wasn;t enough quality and quantity.

Thanks Chuck for coming over from Vic and staying with us while others like Jeff white didn't. To come over when the club was in its infancy and struggling so bad, we respect and appreciate you.

 

[Memories]

The only thing stopping Walker from being a great player was a lack of ability

Donno, maybe we should be a bit more kind to him... if he has kids we want them to play for us if they are good don't we?

 

[The Night Shift]

The only thing stopping Walker from being a great player was a lack of ability

The man is a 10 year servant of the club & a life member. Show a little more love for Jimmy GJ, you big meanie.

 

[Stronzo]

Well done to Walker, has put in a lot of hard work for the freo footy club. I personally thought he could have played another season as he is a reliable backup player, though glad he has life membership.

 

[Brumbies]

Well done Jimmy.
Hope you stick around with the club and hopefully you stay playing at thunder too so some of us can still see you play.

 

[Rubber Pants]

The only thing stopping Walker from being a great player was a lack of ability

Was it you or Belnakor bagging out Shane Parker in his appreciation thread. Are you sure you don't want to rip into Cookie as well or maybe even the driller.

Pretty poor form.

Back to Jimmy, I'll never forget when he came off the bench and absolutely nailed an unsuspecting player. Best tackle ever

 

[ImperialPurple]

Was it you or Belnakor bagging out Shane Parker in his appreciation thread. Are you sure you don't want to rip into Cookie as well or maybe even the driller.

Pretty poor form.

Back to Jimmy, I'll never forget when he came off the bench and absolutely nailed an unsuspecting player. Best tackle ever

Agree!! That happened right in front of me... Jimmy came in off the bench, and an unsuspecting player (Aaron Fiora springs to mind... but I don't think it was actually him, was it? Was it in a derby? Someone remind me...) gets the ball and thinks he has the whole wing to himself... he has hardly turned in the direction of home, when BAM! Jimmy's taken him down front on and won himself a free kick.

Was a bewdiful thing!

 

[fitzmantle]

The only thing stopping Walker from being a great player was a lack of ability

we picked him up as a quality midfielder, whom played pretty well in his first couple games. we then procceded to play him anywhere other than midfield. i would of liked to see him get a chance there. im a fan of grandson but was given shit jobs on other teams best eg judd, harvey, farmer when there was no one else

 

[Shaymuhz]

Was it you or Belnakor bagging out Shane Parker in his appreciation thread. Are you sure you don't want to rip into Cookie as well or maybe even the driller.

Pretty poor form.

Back to Jimmy, I'll never forget when he came off the bench and absolutely nailed an unsuspecting player. Best tackle ever

one and the same