Post BF Upgrade Feedback - Click Here

Remove this Banner Ad

What about Walker?

  • Thread starter Thread starter hoogs
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

hoogs

hoogs

Club Legend
Suspended
Veteran
Joined
Sep 28, 2005
Posts
1,992
Reaction score
0
Location
Freo
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
South Freo,
Walker played only 8 games last year and didn't get a look in after he was dropped following the dismal loss to Geelong in round 12, despite being one of the fastest players in the competiton at a time when speedy players are being sought.

Incidentally, Medhurst was dropped the same week last year and didn't come back either. With Coventry being Walkers grandad, you'd think that he would have been offered up as a trade in the Tarrant deal. Maybe they still have plans for him at Freo.

A top 6 draft pick from 1997, with one years left on his contract at the age of 28, do you think we will see much more ofhim with the depth available?
 
Medhurst would have had a lot more trade value than Walker. He's 25 compared to Jimmy's 28, and while he was out of the team for the second half of the year he has been a proven match-winner, while Grandson has been a solid, but totally unspectacular, player. The upside to Medhurst for the Pies would have far outweighed that of Walker, despite the sentimental connection to Collingwood.

Jimmy will be a very important player this year. Not because he will play every game - he may not play any - but he is a decent player who will shine for his WAFL club, and keep the pressure on the blokes up the pecking order to keep performing. He's well respected around the club, (remember he was in the leadership group in 2006), and he may even score himself the 9 games he needs for Life Membership for Freo.
 
the word around town is the Freo coaching squad consider him too soft, and he is unlikely to get a game unless we have a disastrous run with injuries.
 
But that's been the word around town about Jimmy Walker since 1998. ;) He's still managed 141 games, and he might yet "toughen up" a tad when he realises his career is kaput if he doesn't.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Im sure hes not soft , he just gets knocked off the ball to easy. The fact is hes a serviceable player but hes never going to turn a match for you and there isn't room for players who cant win their position on the day.
 
He has played 141 games, so that is a pretty fair return for a #6 draft pick. But now, our list is stronger and he is struggling to compete against players with better penetration in their kicking, superior defensive skills, and an ability to be a ball winner.
 
For mine it was Crowley that took his spot in the side. He's competing against a guy that is multi-dimensional in his play. He can lock down an opponent or he can damage you on the score board himself.
 
theGav56 said:
He has played 141 games, so that is a pretty fair return for a #6 draft pick. But now, our list is stronger and he is struggling to compete against players with better penetration in their kicking, superior defensive skills, and an ability to be a ball winner.
Click to expand...


That about somes it up!!:thumbsu:
 
fat wombat said:
For mine it was Crowley that took his spot in the side. He's competing against a guy that is multi-dimensional in his play. He can lock down an opponent or he can damage you on the score board himself.
Click to expand...


Fair call Wombat, he will probably need to impress and hit the NAB cup in top form if they decide to ease Crowley back in.
 
Just another thought about him; supposing Hayden's leg decided to much up again.... who would be the player to tackle the speedy backmen? Going with Scahmmer did not work. Having a player like Walker come in and play a role would be handy. That is what depth is about. Having said that, would not be surprised if this is his final year.
 
This might come across as harsh, but I think the fact that he has played 141 games is more of an indication of how crap we were from 95-02, not a reflection on Walker's ability. He's a handy footballer, a good role model and seems like a nice guy, but if James Walker was a 17 year old drafted by Freo in 2006 he wouldn't get to 50 games. IMO there are 33 players infront of him in the batting order, and only injuries to a number of players would see him add to his games tally.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

i have faith that jim will toughen up, suddenly learn how to run the lines and become invaluable in freos inevitable push towards a premiership this year...someone has to it may as well be his buddy
 
To me - Jimmy boy has always been a tad conservative.

Always had pace to burn but how many times have you seen him burn it up and take them on .....Peake does what I believe Walker is capable of.

Everytme he gets the ball without a clear disposal option, he should just put his foot down and take another 10m. He also bounces after a few steps rather than running his measure and then bouncing.

I wouldn't rule him out - however he is going to have fight and fight very hard for a spot and I am hoping that this will make our team very good.
 
Hurts me to admit this, as James Walker has been a long time favourite.:(

I believe we have seen the last of Jimmy in a purple guernsey.

His ability and talent have been put to good use. The club and team has changed, developed and grown and Jimmy has not.

Football is a dynamic sport, players need to constantly develop in order to meet the ever changing requirements.
 
dominguez said:
This might come across as harsh, but I think the fact that he has played 141 games is more of an indication of how crap we were from 95-02, not a reflection on Walker's ability. He's a handy footballer, a good role model and seems like a nice guy, but if James Walker was a 17 year old drafted by Freo in 2006 he wouldn't get to 50 games. IMO there are 33 players infront of him in the batting order, and only injuries to a number of players would see him add to his games tally.
Click to expand...

I think Dominguez is being a bit harsh. There's only 30 or so players in front of him. I watched the Round 3 2006 derby last night and I would concur that Walker looked soft. He's always frustrated me that he can't make a tackle stick, and yet he's supposed to be a defender.

And ... 2006 might have been a bad year for him. We have written off people before -- especially on BigFooty -- only to see them come back and be very effective. Macca, Cook, Grover to name three.
 
I think Moo and Ralphy have got it spot on, in their assesment of James.
His speed is his greatest ability but he doesn't quite do enough.
Hopefully he would of spent the last 6 months spewing that he couldn't break back into the team.
It shows how much we have matured, team-wise, when a player of his calibre is not even on the bench.
 
theGav56 said:
Just another thought about him; supposing Hayden's leg decided to much up again.... who would be the player to tackle the speedy backmen? Going with Scahmmer did not work. Having a player like Walker come in and play a role would be handy. That is what depth is about. Having said that, would not be surprised if this is his final year.
Click to expand...

Grover, Duffield, Thornton and Drum could all have a go, and maybe O'Brien could in the pre-season games.
The more I hear about O'Brien the more more I like him. He's got good skills, he's quick and he's got a temper on him which just has to be channelled the right way and we'll have our own home made Johnson(Lions) type character.

The unfortunate reality for Walker is that he's a handy back up at best.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

During the drills at training yesterday Connolly was quite vocal in praising Walkers efforts and skills. The guy is really putting his head in. Remember Grover a year or 2 back? Everyone was calling for his head and calling him soft. I think he can turn things around.
 
Dr Ralph Dagg said:
The thing you all have missed is that if he retires at year's end, and becomes the runner, we'll have two Walkers for runners. :D
Click to expand...


That's not a bad idea Ralph, he'd certainly get the message out to the players faster than any runner in afl history. I can picture it now, player x is running with the ball and Jimmy runs past him in his fluoro yellow shirt. :D
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom