Walker's big year

[sxcdavster40]

I was at training today and was pleased to see the level of fitness and skills of the boys was pretty good. Even though fitness is very important, I believe skills must come first and we must work on them greatly if we are to succeed in the near future.


But at training today, there was one, lone, strong person in a hat continuously running laps. At first I took no notice of him but eventually it amazed me how big this person was and the pace in which they were completing the laps. On closer inspection, I realised that it was Andrew Walker. And my, has he put on the kilos! He is a big unit and must be approaching 90kgs.

As well as being physically stronger with bulging biceps, his body and his mind seem more mature. He walks and behaves differently, with a new confidence and this year, the coming AFL season in 2007 will be a big one for him. He seems more of a leader and ready, prepared and driven to conquer new goals next season. My prediction: Big year from him.


Also, does anybody know why he was running laps and didn't join the main group in training?

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I was at training today and was pleased to see the level of fitness and skills of the boys was pretty good. Even though fitness is very important, I believe skills must come first and we must work on them greatly if we are to succeed in the near future.


But at training today, there was one, lone, strong person in a hat continuously running laps. At first I took no notice of him but eventually it amazed me how big this person was and the pace in which they were completing the laps. On closer inspection, I realised that it was Andrew Walker. And my, has he put on the kilos! He is a big unit and must be approaching 90kgs.

As well as being physically stronger with bulging biceps, his body and his mind seem more mature. He walks and behaves differently, with a new confidence and this year, the coming AFL season in 2007 will be a big one for him. He seems more of a leader and ready, prepared and driven to conquer new goals next season. My prediction: Big year from him.


Also, does anybody know why he was running laps and didn't join the main group in training?

i think he had groin surgery during the off-season.

so he wont be able to join in - just as yet.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

i think he had groin surgery during the off-season.

so he wont be able to join in - just as yet.

Currect. Will be joining in with the boys some time next week.

 

[blues4flag]

My favorite Carlton player, can't wait to see him next year.

 

[one_twelve112]

I have said it all along - this guy is capable of anything.

AndrewWalkersGirl - did you have anything to do with his groin problems?

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

one_twelve112I have said it all along - this guy is capable of anything.

AndrewWalkersGirl - did you have anything to do with his groin problems?

I could only wish!!

But in all seriousness, he has grown so much - just look at the training pics and he looks even more like a juniour Kouta.

I have a handfull of kids that i'm immensly excited about next year - Murphy, Kennedy, Waite, Walker, Gibbs, and i'm really excited about Grigg ( I think that is him in that previous post of mine next to Murphy and Scotland - if so, he's huge!) and Anderson.

I still haven't got a jumper, mostly because i'm undecided about whose number to put on the back!

 

[btdg]

Walker - All-Australian full-back/HB in 2007? Or at least an elite defensive player (team success will hold him back from individual honours)

He is definitely due for a big year - would have to be a big tip for the All-breakout team anyway

 

[parrot]

We are witenessing something special at Carlton. Our young players have talent, determination, a growing self-belief and are desperate to succeed. Walker, Setanta, Bower, Gibbs, Murph, Simmo, Russell, Kennedy, Waite, Fisher, Jackson, Edwards, Hartlett, Blackwell, etc etc etc. The list goes on and on. The more I learn about the new recruits the more I realise that Hughes has delivered a masterstroke. Our list deadwood has virtually been eliminated. I can only see a very successful future now.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Parrot, those words bring an enormous smile to my face!!

 

[Muji]

God I love Parrot. Bright future ahead

 

[Melbdave81]

Given that we are all getting pretty excited about what is to come in the next couple of years with all the young potential stars we now have at the club, what should we be aiming to achieve next year?

 

[blues76]

yea i was there to see walks...ran past many times and he IS big...
and he's left handed? was taking pot shots quarterback style into the wheelie bins....

 

[juzza316]

Given that we are all getting pretty excited about what is to come in the next couple of years with all the young potential stars we now have at the club, what should we be aiming to achieve next year?

Anything but another wooden spoon!

 

[Melbdave81]

Anything but another wooden spoon!

Haha, fair call to. Im thinking 6-8 wins would be a pretty good result given the age of the list and a NAB rising star award for Gibbs or Kennedy

 

[juzza316]

Haha, fair call to. Im thinking 6-8 wins would be a pretty good result given the age of the list and a NAB rising star award for Gibbs or Kennedy

Yeh 6-8 wins would be great. It would be nice to think we are a chance at the top 8 but that would be way too optimistic

 

[Melbdave81]

Yeh 6-8 wins would be great. It would be nice to think we are a chance at the top 8 but that would be way too optimistic

Yeah, i think finals are probably too much to ask for. The kids will run out of legs towards the end of the season so if we were any chance of finals we'd need to win a lot of games early on

 

[HBF]

Haha, fair call to. Im thinking 6-8 wins would be a pretty good result given the age of the list and a NAB rising star award for Gibbs or Kennedy

Thinking the same myself Dave. 8 wins would be a good effort IMHO, considering where we have come from.

 

[Melbdave81]

Yeh 6-8 wins would be great. It would be nice to think we are a chance at the top 8 but that would be way too optimistic

Yeah, this is very much a year to give all of these guys opportunities to show what they can do without running them into the ground. Would be great to pick up those wins along the way but i think it is as important to give them a taste for a few weeks and then let them go back to the Ants to work on their games and come back into the ones. Obviously with a guy like Gibbs that wont be as necessary but for the rest of this years and even guys like Hartlett and Edwards, will do them the world of good

 

[Mayesy_23]

Another year of development. I would love to see us win a fe more games but even if we don't, at least this year we'll be seeing young kids developed instead of a number of has beens who weren't going to help us win a flag. Finals 2009 I reckon.

 

[Bluebear]

..........As well as being physically stronger with bulging biceps, his body and his mind seem more mature. He walks and behaves differently, with a new confidence and this year, the coming AFL season in 2007 will be a big one for him. He seems more of a leader and ready, prepared and driven to conquer new goals next season. My prediction: Big year from him.

You got all that from watching him run laps?
We are all excited, and thats a good thing, but EVERY year the boys look bigger/stronger/fitter in November than they do in May.
I'm excited about our list and prospects next year as well, but keep in mind........we finished last two years in a row.......all teams have "great young kids" lining up for them, and all their players look bigger stronger fitter and ? more focussed or driven (not sure how this looks while you're running).......
Applaud your enthusiasm, but lets keep some perspective.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Bluebear - that is the thing though. Unlike other years, we are finally getting the team together that can compete with all these other young teams.

We have been lacking in this area of competition for a few years. That is why everyone is so excited - because we are finally getting together a good group of kids, who have the desire and more important, the abilities, to compete with the other 15 teams in the comp.

I get what you're saying, about us keeping some perspective, and certainly that we dont expect too much too soon. However, it is genuinely exciting because we have not had the talent and abilities that we currently have on our list. Yes, every other team is building up as well, but for the first time in over 5, 6 years, we finally have a group that can go head-to-head with their opponents in terms of abilities.

it will take a few years before we are up the top, or playing finals. However, the thing is, having abilities means having confidence. Before, we had a below-average list, and therefore no confidence within the team, or from outside the team. Look at it now - young talent with plenty of confidence and desire to do well. As Hughes has said, he went for kids with plenty of confidence and a desire to do well, rather than kids who were just good footballers. He has picked up kids who want to succeed, and they certainly have the talent to do so.

It will just take a few years In the meantime, I'm very proud of all the supporters who are unbelievably optimistic, even though we get slack from other supporters, ONLY because I believe that we have been so negative and so down for so long, and finally we have something to be happy about. We are getting a competitive team together, and that is reason enough for me to be extremely excited about where my club is going On-field

Bring on 2007!

 

[BlueWorld]

Hopefully that optimism won't be ruined by a huge loss some time next season (as it has last few years). We're still a very young team.

 

[Bluebear]

Bluebear - that is the thing though. Unlike other years, we are finally getting the team together that can compete with all these other young teams.

We have been lacking in this area of competition for a few years. That is why everyone is so excited - because we are finally getting together a good group of kids, who have the desire and more important, the abilities, to compete with the other 15 teams in the comp.

I get what you're saying, about us keeping some perspective, and certainly that we dont expect too much too soon. However, it is genuinely exciting because we have not had the talent and abilities that we currently have on our list. Yes, every other team is building up as well, but for the first time in over 5, 6 years, we finally have a group that can go head-to-head with their opponents in terms of abilities.

it will take a few years before we are up the top, or playing finals. However, the thing is, having abilities means having confidence. Before, we had a below-average list, and therefore no confidence within the team, or from outside the team. Look at it now - young talent with plenty of confidence and desire to do well. As Hughes has said, he went for kids with plenty of confidence and a desire to do well, rather than kids who were just good footballers. He has picked up kids who want to succeed, and they certainly have the talent to do so.

It will just take a few years In the meantime, I'm very proud of all the supporters who are unbelievably optimistic, even though we get slack from other supporters, ONLY because I believe that we have been so negative and so down for so long, and finally we have something to be happy about. We are getting a competitive team together, and that is reason enough for me to be extremely excited about where my club is going On-field

Bring on 2007!

Don't get me wrong AWG. I'm as excited as anyone, and have been one of the most positive in the last few months in the face of constant negativity.
I didn't mean for my thread to read like a dampner or a negative thread. I just thought that sxcdavster40 vbmenu_register("postmenu_6325041", true); was maybe seeing what he/she wanted to see with Tex running laps, but hey, good luck to em

But you're spot on with your comments regarding talent etc. It would not surprise me to see another Wizard cup in the cabinet, simply because many other clubs might be hlding back a little, whereas I think we will be at full steam come the start of the pre season cup.
Sure we may run out of puff mid year but if some early wins can give these boys some confidence then it will be worth it.

GO BLUES!!!

 

[Heff]

your right AWG we finally have some depth even though it's young and inexperienced.

we should be getting over excited and generate a bit of hype, it will be good for the club to have supporters sign up on the back of BF hype.

we really could do some big things next year!!!!!!

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Heff, maybe not next year, but certainly in the years after. As you said, they are still quite inexperienced, and certainly the Gibbs/Grigg/Anderson/Hampson/Benjamin all need a few bullants and then senior games.

Give it a few years before we have a permanent threatening team

However, miracles can happen, and we do have God and Jesus in our team(see Nicknames thread) and you never know what can happen.

22 footballers against 22 footballers - anything can happen

Exciting times around the corner.... (I'll be the kid, and start asking - "Are we there yet Dad?")