Walsh already a winner with Carlton

OCEAN Grove footballer Sam Walsh will officially pull on the Old Dark Navy Blue next season after Carlton selected the midfield jet with its No.1 pick at the 2018 NAB AFL Draft.

After producing a dazzling under-18 season, the talented youngster was the clear standout when the Blues called out his name first overall last week. Walsh grew up and learned his footy skills in the south-west where his dad Wayne was a prominent Hampden football league figure and played in Cobden’s back-to-back premierships in 1997-98.

The family lived in the Top End for a few years before basing themselves in Ocean Grove where Walsh found his way into the Geelong Falcons program.

Carlton general manager of list management and strategy Stephen Silvagni said he was delighted to secure Walsh with the No.1 pick. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have secured Sam Walsh as the No.1 draft pick for the Blues,” Silvagni said.

“Our entire recruiting team has done a huge amount of work prior to tonight and we couldn’t be more pleased with the quality of both the person and player we have brought into the club.

“This year’s draft pool is clearly a hugely talented group, so for Sam to stand out is a real testament to how hard he has worked throughout his football journey.”

Mum Jacque and dad Wayne said the prospect of Sam running out for his first AFL game would be an exciting reward for their son’s hard work.

Walsh has already won a plethora of awards from his outstanding draft year, winning the Larke Medal as the best player of the under-18 National Championships.

He also captained the Geelong Falcons, Vic Country, the NAB AFL Academy squad and the under-18 All Australian team.