Sam Walsh says he is tracking well in his recovery from back surgery, but the star Carlton midfielder won't be rushing his return.
Having been forced to sit out the crucial round 23 clash against Collingwood last year, a heartbreaking loss that saw the Blues miss out a ground-breaking return to finals, Walsh is conscious of not rushing his return.
"I definitely learnt the hard way last year about how cruel it can be missing games at the end of the year," he said.
"I think like anyone, you want to have a body of work that sets you up for playing ... a really solid block of football that leads into back-end footy, because that's when it really counts. Standing here now, I'd love to say I'll be fit and firing at the end of the year."
Sam Walsh undergoes back surgery and will miss the first month of the 2023 season.
"Following this extensive process, it was clear that given all alternative treatments had not progressed his recovery, surgery was the required option to correct the issue," Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd said.
"Sam is now recovering after undergoing surgery last night and will commence his rehabilitation in the New Year."
Sam Walsh does not have a clear timeline around his return to full fitness since sustaining a back injury late in the 2022 season.
"He has been pretty diligent with the guidance and the work that he is putting in. We're still pretty confident that he'll be right for round one. We're not sure when he is going to ramp out because they can turn pretty quickly," Carlton senior assistant coach Ash Hansen said.
Patrick Cripps will be the sole of captain Carlton in 2022. Former co-captain Sam Docherty will stand down from captaincy duties for the 2022 season as he focuses on his recovery from testicular cancer.
Cripps will be supported by vice-captains Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering.
"Since arriving at the Club, I have seen first-hand the incredible passion Patrick has to bring team success to this football club. Equally, both Jacob and Sam set the standards for work-rate and professionalism and have earned the opportunity to lead as co-vice captains," Blues coach Michael Voss said.
Sam Walsh claims the John Nicholls Medal as Carlton's best and fairest for the 2021 season.
Walsh polled 183 votes to narrowly edge clear of reigning winner Jacob Weitering (172 votes) in second and Coleman Medal winner Harry McKay (118 votes) in third.
"When Sam was drafted to our football club in 2018, he was determined to succeed and make an impact in the navy blue and tonight serves as recognition for doing just that," Blues football boss Brad Lloyd said.
"What he has achieved in his career to date is extraordinary and becoming a John Nicholls medallist marks another very special moment for him, which we and the whole Carlton family should be extremely proud of."
Eddie Betts commemorates his coach at the Crows, the late Phil Walsh, with letters on tape wrapped around his wrist during games.
"I've got 'SW' on here and 'SW' means start well," Betts shared on The Bright Side.
"Where that comes from is it was a Thursday afternoon 5 o'clock in the evening and we were all going home and Phil Walsh came up to me and said, 'You need to start well this week. If we get off to a good start this week, no one is going to stop you'.
"He gave me a fist bump, and those were the last words that Phil said to me."
Sam Walsh will be familiar with the surrounds of TIO Stadium when he runs out for Carlton against Gold Coast.
Walsh spent three years living in Darwin growing up, selling copies of the local Record outside games for the Northern Territory Football League, and even crossing paths with former Blues spearhead Brendan Fevola while doing so.
"He picked it up from me and had a read through it, and checked if he was on the front cover or not and then gave it back to me. It was pretty funny," Walsh recalled.
"I was a bit star-struck and then I thought he was going to buy it off me and maybe give me a tip, but he just gave it back."
Just a year after winning the NAB AFL Rising Star award, teenage sensation Sam Walsh has joined Carlton's leadership group.
Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty have been named co-captains for the second straight year, flanked by veterans Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow.
Another former No.1 draft pick, Jacob Weitering, and veteran defender Liam Jones join Walsh as the three new additions to the seven-man group.
"This is a significant step in the growth of our football club with our emerging generation of talent now ready to step into senior leadership positions," Docherty said.
"Weiters, Jonesy and Walshy are exceptional leaders in everything they do, whether it be on the training track, during games and living the values of our football club ? that is why they have earned their place in the leadership group.
"All three of them are born for the role, are quality Carlton people and we are excited to see them continue to grow as footballers and as individuals."
Sam Walsh wins the AFL Rising Star award for 2019 after polling 54 ahead of Connor Rozee on 42 votes and Sydney Stack 28 votes.
Walsh averaged 25.1 disposals, 5.1 marks, 3.4 clearances and 3.2 tackles per game in 2019, breaking the record for most touches amassed by a first-year player in Champion Data history.
In claiming the Rising Star, Walsh becomes Carlton's first-ever winner of the award.
"It's a bit surreal. There are so many moments from this year that I'll look back on and just think 'did that really happen?' This is one of those moments," Walsh said.
"It's something that I have dreamt of, but I never thought it would happen. It's a bit of a crazy time, really."
Sam Walsh is the 2019 round four NAB AFL Rising Star nominee after tallying 28 disposals, 6 tackles and 7 clearances in Carlton's heartbreaking two-point loss to the Suns.
"I've always put pretty high expectations and a bit of pressure on myself to perform anyway, because I know that if I work hard there's no reason why I can't have a big impact even at this stage," Walsh said.
"I just thought, 'I'll give this a red-hot crack, ask as many questions as I can and use the people around me to upskill me and give me a feel for what it's going to be like at AFL level.'
"I'm happy with how I've been tracking individually so far, but I've still got a lot to work on and I'm learning and growing each week from playing games and reviewing them."
Sam Walsh makes his AFL debut for Carlton at the MCG with 24 disposals (16 kicks and 8 handballs), 6 marks and a tackle in a 33-point loss to Richmond.
Monday, 4 February 2019
Kade Simpson says Sam Walsh has no discernible weaknesses and is ready to slot straight into Carlton's midfield.
"On the training track he's up the front of all the running drills, he's got explosive speed away from stoppages, an amazing lateral step and (he's) just a ripping young fella," Simpson said of Walsh.
"I'd be excited if I was a Carlton fan because he's going to have a very long career, I would have thought."
As expected, Carlton select Sam Walsh with pick No.1 in the 2018 AFL Draft.
"To get my named called out by an AFL club is a dream come true and I’m stoked to be at the Carlton Football Club. I can’t wait to get stuck into training and train alongside Paddy Cripps and Sam Docherty, it’s surreal," Walsh told SEN radio.
Geelong Falcons talent manager Mick Turner says potential No.1 pick Sam Walsh would be the perfect fit at Carlton.
"Without being too hard on them, Gold Coast is on its third rebuild. I'd prefer Sam to go to a club that's on the rise," Turner said.
"Carlton is criticised, but they're certainly a long way in front of Gold Coast. Going to Carlton, he's certainly going to a more established club where he's going to get a lot more support."
Recruiters consider Sam Walsh to be tough, consistent, reliable, a good kick and with a nice balance between winning the ball and getting on the end of things. Wrapped together, it all makes him a contender for the No.1 pick.
"I don't like to think about that too much. I'd love to go as early as I can in the draft, and I think you can keep improving if you have that competitive mindset. I always try to get the best out of myself," Walsh said.
Sam Walsh, an exciting prospect who is eligible for the 2018 NAB AFL Draft, will be in Wellington playing for his country against a New Zealand side that includes one of his childhood heroes: former Brisbane Lions star Simon Black.
"It's going to be surreal. I barracked for Brisbane growing up so I watched a lot of him so it'll be awesome to be out there against him," Walsh said.
"I'll have to pinch myself a bit.
"But even just picking up the little things he does will be really valuable for me. Any time spent on a player of that calibre is pretty amazing for me."