Player Watch Welcome to Port Adelaide Rookie Pick #13 (2023) - Xavier Walsh

[Grave Danger]

Based of this pic, looks like Xavier (far right) trained with the backline in the off season camp

View attachment 1874390

Tom McCallum and Kyle Marshall already chopped liver?

 

[Port2Power]

Tom McCallum and Kyle Marshall already chopped liver?

modified programs after back injury (Marshall) & post arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle (McCallum)

 

[Steve Dore]

It’s not like we had much forward last year with MG out for most of the year and Marshall banging his head on the ground.
Throw in one leg Charlie and it was pretty disappointing apart from Lord showing improvement.

The role of a tall forward at the Kenny Hinkley Football Club is to bring the ball to ground not to kick goals.

 

[240volt]

The role of a tall forward at the Kenny Hinkley Football Club is to bring the ball to ground not to kick goals.

Lord kicked 4 in the Brisbane final and played the next week!!

 

[VineValerian]

Lord kicked 4 in the Brisbane final and played the next week!!

Ken must have had amnesia that week.

 

[RossFC]

 

[davesnothere]

If I were Walsh watching Esava I'd be thinking I could have a pretty solid career at Port Adelaide if I put in enough over the next 12 months.

 

[PJ Power]

This guy plays a very bold game. Seems to be good at ground level, attacks the play hard, backs himself to use his speed (which is very good) and looks to have a great kick. He plays with the energy and confidence of Noah Balta

21

Noah Balta

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.7

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.9

4star

MG

236.3

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

5.3

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.3

1star

MG

233.0

4star

D

7.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

217.4

4star

and maybe even a very raw Alex Rance

Alex Rance

Age

34

Ht

194cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

7.7

5star

M

5.7

5star

T

2.4

4star

MG

226.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

17.0

5star

K

5.8

3star

HB

11.2

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.6

5star

. Love this pick.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Did a couple of nice things last night, but was pretty quiet.

There was one bit of play at the northern west corner of the square, where he took on 3 crowies and nearly got past them all.

The 3rd crowie got enough of his jumper to slow him down and the 2nd crowie came in to gang tackle him, but he just in time, got a scrappy handball to a team mate who under pressure jammed it on his boot and it went out of bounds near the interchange box.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

This guy plays a very bold game. Seems to be good at ground level, attacks the play hard, backs himself to use his speed (which is very good) and looks to have a great kick. He plays with the energy and confidence of Noah Balta and maybe even a very raw Alex Rance. Love this pick.

Just to add, he also is not afraid to go one on one with the tall forward in his vicinity.

 

[PJ Power]

Just to add, he also is not afraid to go one on one with the tall forward in his vicinity.

Agree. There's a fearlessness about the way he goes about it that is hard to not notice.

 

[It Just Is]

We delisted a contracted Pasini and with that list spot rookie listed Walsh to play the same position. Bold list management and looking like a good move early days.

 

[RossFC]

We delisted a contracted Pasini and with that list spot rookie listed Walsh to play the same position. Bold list management and looking like a good move early days.

Wonder if we would have kept Pasini as well if Clurey managed to get traded.

 

[Marmozet]

He could be a Houston-like bargain from the rookie draft.

 

[Chachi]

I like this lad. If he'd been taken higher we'd be getting more excited by his output.

 

[NoddyHolder]

I'm very happy with my buddy choice this year. Will be our best defender within 3 years

 

[jackag24]

Ken must have had amnesia that week.

He was praying for the Lord to save him and someone overhead and kept Ollie in the team

 

[Blinky Nyland]

Can Walsh play wing? He's pretty quick and his passes hit their target. We are trying just about everyone else there at the moment.

 

[thundercloud]

We delisted a contracted Pasini and with that list spot rookie listed Walsh to play the same position. Bold list management and looking like a good move early days.

This question might have been answered but how did west coast and fremantle overlook him or did not rate, in their view better prospects available?

 

[Port2Power]

This question might have been answered but how did west coast and fremantle overlook him or did not rate, in their view better prospects available?

Xavier Walsh

A draft smokey out of Western Australia, East Perth spearhead Xavier Walsh has terrific aerial ability as a strong-marking key forward.

central.rookieme.com

"A combination of injury and suspension prevented the 18-year-old from making a greater splash in his top-age campaign, but recruiters were left pleased by their first impressions in Colts Super Round."

 

[NoddyHolder]

This question might have been answered but how did west coast and fremantle overlook him or did not rate, in their view better prospects available?

Good question. I've always wondered why Port wasted their last rookie pick in 2016 on Dan Houston when 11 Victorian clubs didn't rate him.

Xavier Walsh will go on to be the best tall defender from this draft - bookmark it. If, by the end of his career, you can prove me wrong I will buy you an ice-cream of your choice, and donate $10 (indexed for inflation) to your favourite charity.

 

[Duck Farmer]

Xavier Walsh will go on to be the best tall defender from this draft - bookmark it. If, by the end of his career, you can prove me wrong I will buy you an ice-cream of your choice, and donate $10 (indexed for inflation) to your favourite charity.

Boysenberry Ripple and the Sack Hinkley Fund please.

 

[240volt]

Boysenberry Ripple and the Sack Hinkley Fund please.

Walsh is only 18, he should have at least 12 years left playing if all goes well.
You want me to continue with this story?

 

[Duck Farmer]

Walsh is only 18, he should have at least 12 years left playing if all goes well.
You want me to continue with this story?

That's why we'll need the fund.

 

[VineValerian]

Can Walsh play wing? He's pretty quick and his passes hit their target. We are trying just about everyone else there at the moment.

Soldo for wing.
Bookmark it.