What to do with Andrew Walker?

[TNBT]

It seems his days in the back line are over, and he has been promised more time in the midfield and forward line. Personally I thought he played some pretty good footy in the back line, so I'm thinking he could be used as a defensive-minded forward, and get some time out on the wings where he can run. I wouldn't really want to play him on the ball, as I don't trust his ability to take hits and get into the contest and still stay healthy.

So my question is what sort of roles/positions do you think Walker will be played in? Also, what roles/positions would you LIKE to see him played in?

 

[Sin City]

I really want to see him played as a medium/lead up forward. He was very good there against Sydney in the elimination final and has showed a bit there a few times before as well. He'll be able to take an opposition rebounding defender deep and make him accountable and should be too quick on the lead for most defenders.

 

[krayfesh]

Play him in the midfield. That's the position we drafted him for, give him a proper run.

 

[zeeCFC]

Him and Yarran will hopefully play the same role...HFF with stints in the midfield

 

[Electric Blue]

I would love to see 1AW played to get confidence, he could still be a jet. Midfield to half forward and he is in for 8 weeks no matter what.

 

[Sublime]

Half forward would be pretty much the only spot i can see him playing, if at all. The time is now for him, otherwise i really can't see him having much of a future with us. Competition for spots should be excellent next year.

 

[stabface]

Half-forward/midfield - its about time we played him to his strengths. He's one of the fittest guys at the club and it's about time we let him run

 

[DarkTint]

Play him in whatever position he was playing against Sydney in the final. Medium/3rd tall forward? Should be trying to use his strengths to exploit matchups. If they are tall enough, he is probably to fast/agile for them so run his oppenent into the midfield and burn him going back the other way. If they are fast/athletic enough, tex should take them to the goalsquare and exploit the height advantage. With the new interchange/sub rule teams might opt for extra runners who can have a stint onball compared to say a medium defender/forward.

 

[The Toad]

Play him on a wing and give him licence to drift into the fwd line as another marking option. This way he can use his pace to run off the wing/hff and score from outside or get down fwd a use his pace on the lead.

 

[fbfpf]

I think with the new interchange rules his elite endurance and running ability will see him spend more time in the midfield.

The times he went back to the Ants this year he played in the mid field and racked up disposals by running off players but also showed he could win contested ball and clearances.

 

[HBF]

I really want to see him played as a medium/lead up forward. He was very good there against Sydney in the elimination final and has showed a bit there a few times before as well. He'll be able to take an opposition rebounding defender deep and make him accountable and should be too quick on the lead for most defenders.

This.
As long as he can work on his kicking for goal, there's no reason why he couldn't contribute 25+ goals in 2011.

 

[gbatman]

Drafted as a midfielder. Had a good year on the ball in about 2006. Has exceptional endurance. Is a good size and ball winner and has likes to rove and attack the footy.

We have tried to use him as a tagger, a back flanker and last game a forward pocket. Things he is not.

We need to play him on the ball in an attacking role similar to how Collingwood use Swan.

 

[Silvagnis]

Drafted as a midfielder. Had a good year on the ball in about 2006. Has exceptional endurance. Is a good size and ball winner and has likes to rove and attack the footy.

We have tried to use him as a tagger, a back flanker and last game a forward pocket. Things he is not.

We need to play him on the ball in an attacking role similar to how Collingwood use Swan.

Walker is a utility who has played well in all those roles.

Wisbey likened Walker to Nigel Smart who was an undersized attacking defender.

The worst comparison for Walker would be Swan who is a ball magnet who makes the right decisions and plays to his strengthes.

Swan doesn't have Walker's endurance, athleticism and gait.

Walker isn't an onballer.

Best spot is lead up forward/wing who pushes up the ground and swaps with Lucas or Gibbs who can go forward.

 

[Sin City]

He's got a few in front of him for a midfield role Gbatman

 

[GoBlues!]

Walker played for the Bendigo Pioneers when he was drafted by Carlton and his draft profile shows he played as a half back flanker and could also play on the wing - it also suggests he might end up holding down a key defensive post. So much for draft profiles.

Details:
Club: Echuca
DOB: 18 May 86 Hgt: 189cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Wing/Half-back flank
Natural foot: Right

Profile:
Walker is an extremely exciting half-back flanker who could also spend time on a wing or may even end up holding down a key defensive post. He has grown 4cm this year, and is still very young - he is only eligible for this draft by a month.

Walker has a lot of attributes that suggest he will be taken extremely early. His aerobic capacity is sensational, he won the 3km run at draft camp and came 2nd in the shuttle run. He also has a massive leap on him - one of his marks for Vic Country was a genuine screamer. Andrew is a fantastic mark, reads the play well and times his leaps to perfection.

He spent most of the year providing drive off half-back for Bendigo, but was used as a centre half back in Vic Country's final game and excelled there, was best on ground to win the MVP for his side.

Walker is a good kick on either foot, but better on his right. He has a very unusual habit of bouncing the ball with his left hand and gathering it back with one hand. Something that he might have to work on.

He has tremendous pace over the first 5 yards as well and is another who prefers to dispose of the ball by foot rather than hand. He started the year a little slowly after returning from Ireland but was exceptional after that, went right on with after the carnival.

The only possible query I can think of is his consistency, does tend to flash in and out of games a little, but when you consider he is a year younger than most players I wouldn't worry about that too much. Certain top 10 selection for mine, should go in the top half dozen.

I think Ratten will give him stints up forward and in the midfield, but will still use him in defence when required.

 

[ESKIE]

Tall Mid

 

[born in carlton]

foward pocket

 

[Azul]

Wing. His athleticism lends itself to outside midfielder.

We only hide him in forward and back pockets because he's always returning from injury and thus doesn't have full fitness.

May the football gods grant him an injury-free year.

 

[rp84]

Let him go to GWS for a 1st round compo pick.

Use pick on best available inside mid.

 

[BlueTongue]

Wing. His athleticism lends itself to outside midfielder.

We only hide him in forward and back pockets because he's always returning from injury and thus doesn't have full fitness.

May the football gods grant him an injury-free year.

+1. On the wing for me. Move Simmo to HFF because he is willing to have a shot at, and is good at kicking goals. Lucas on the opposite wing.

 

[Silvagnis]

foward pocket

This plus swapping into the midfield.

[YOUTUBE]_7lBOtuTrRU[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7lBOtuTrRU

:OMG! Walker is the next Jurrah:

 

[TerryWallet]

Let him go to GWS for a 1st round compo pick.

Use pick on best available inside mid.

This is what i was thinking.

Lets face it. GWS have already come to an agreement with 6-8 players to join them in 2012, ala GC. Walker is a likely candidate. He wanted/wants to leave and he has currency for a startup Club.

I would gladly accept the Compo pick for Walker. I don't think we would miss him much.

And secretly i hope he HAS agreed with GWS. That would mean they can't get their paws on Murphy, who we CAN'T afford to lose.

 

[Red Bull]

This is what i was thinking.

Lets face it. GWS have already come to an agreement with 6-8 players to join them in 2012, ala GC. Walker is a likely candidate. He wanted/wants to leave and he has currency for a startup Club.

I would gladly accept the Compo pick for Walker. I don't think we would miss him much.

And secretly i hope he HAS agreed with GWS. That would mean they can't get their paws on Murphy, who we CAN'T afford to lose.

That bastard Sheedy hates Carlton and you know he would love to steal Murphy off us .

If Walker does go to GWS , a compo pick used on best available mid plus Dylan Buckley next year will take our midfield to the elite level in the not to distant future !!!

 

[TNBT]

Wing. His athleticism lends itself to outside midfielder.

We only hide him in forward and back pockets because he's always returning from injury and thus doesn't have full fitness.

May the football gods grant him an injury-free year.

I'm starting to think along those same lines. I liked having him rebounding and running out of the backline, but if we're not going to play him back there, then the wing would seem to suit him. I don't like the idea of playing him in the centre or on the ball, as he's not exactly the most durable of players. However, on a wing he would be out of a lot of contested pack situations, and he would be able to use his endurance and athleticism to just keep on running all day. We can then also swing him into the forward line at times, either on a half forward flank or put him in the pocket and create some matchup problems for the opposing coach.