Early last year when the Blues were struggling, actually make that all year, the bunker bandits at Carlton decided their coaching prodigy needed a mentor and a confidant to help squeeze every last bit of talent out of the mighty Blues.
Following a lengthy and detailed assessment process for potential apprentices, they eventually gave up and tossed a carton of Carlton Extra Dry at Robert Walls and that did the trick.
Walls was keen to come on board as soon as possible, hoping he could re-live, in part, his halcyon days of the 60s and 70s. This was seen as a positive move by the Blues and it also meant they wouldn’t have to suffer any more of Wallsy’s tomes about how pathetic and incompetent they were.
So the seed was sown and green shoots were everywhere, the next thing they had to do was tell Brendon Bolton who the hell Robert Walls was.
Blues head coach Brendon Bolton. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Apparently when the Blues notified Walls of his appointment he gave them a bit of clip behind the ear and told them that just because most other clubs had to accessorise with an Alistair Clarkson reject, there was no need for the Blues to have gone down the same path.
There was collective agreement on this point but the damage had already been done so they just decided to live with it.
When the news was delivered to Bolton it wasn’t taken too well, although the other kids he was playing with thought there was merit in the idea.
The Blues brainstrust were really on a roll and decided that Bolton’s evolution would be best served by sending him off to Harvard to improve his leadership skills.
If anyone can teach us anything about diplomacy, leadership, fair play and the competitive spirit it’s our allies on the other side of the world. Deprogramming should be completed prior to Round 1!
It’s understood that Walls was also offered a placement in the same program as Bolts but declined because he said he didn’t like the weather in Tasmania.
High on the list of issues to be addressed by mentor and apprentice was Bolton’s media presence, or rather, lack of it.
Walls told Bolton he needed to treat the media with less respect, a formula that had worked so well for him. It’s further understood that Walls told Bolton that while it was acceptable for men to cry, that didn’t include post media sessions after a belting.
Bolton apparently struck back and said he didn’t care what the media thought, Carlton was still a good place to be except during the footy season.
The goss coming from Ikon Park is that the two are starting to bond particularly well buoyed by a successful recruiting campaign in 2018.
High on Wallsy’s agenda is the reincarnation of the psychological program he introduced at Brisbane to instil a tougher and more resilient mind set into the players.
Proof of the symbiosis is Bolton’s enthusiasm for the program and he’s putting his hand up to be a participant. It has been reported that Walls saw this as critical to Bolton’s development, apparently the correct terminology is ‘stremplification’, whatever that means.
Go the Blues!
Lukey Miller
Guest
The mentor in the coaches box often does not bode well for the coach and Bolton should be very nervous indeed. Hope it works out, but it rarely ends well.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Lots of people know Wallsy in here hey.
Klompy
Guest
The funny Conversation between Bolton and Walls would be Walls tells Bolton that Carlton will win the premiership in 2019, when actually means a Wooden Spoon for Carlton in 2019. Just like the silliest tip when Walls said that the Eagles will win the 2018 Wooden Spoon.
Wayne Kerr
Guest
Wallsy is the heart and soul of Carlton. It’s good to see him in this role as he will toughen up the list. I have been mates with Robert for many years now, and I can tell you that he knows his stuff.
Leonard
Guest
Not quite 100% on topic, but I liked the Walls / Sheahan combo on On the Couch a few years back; they seemed to have a mutual respect for each other's profession and fed off each others commentary. Reckon the show has gone downhill since then; having an all-player 'couch' can reduce it to insider chatter. The original Optus show was a good one too. Still like that Sheedy quip about "the acid tongue of Carlton". BTW, today's yoof would, (i) be like "What!!!!" when told that Walls was a fulltime primary school teacher for most of his football career, and that (ii) that a 'male' was an actual primary school teacher. Should male quotas be mndated to rebalance the 80/20 this gender imbalance?
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
That’s your opinion Paul which you are entitled too. I don’t know what makes him irrelevant to today’s game - is it his age or the fact that he hasn’t been involved with any club for a number of years? He has been involved in Australia Rules Football at the highest level as a player, Coach and commentator for 50 years. I would think his knowledge of what happens within football clubs is more than most. That is what he is doing at Carlton at the moment. He holds no official position but voluntarily offers up his time to offer up advice to any coach or player who wants it. He is not there to tell Bolton or the other coaches how to do their job or coach but to answer any questions or offer opinions. I think it is great that past players are involved with their clubs and I am pretty sure Chris Fa gan has asked Lethal a few questions in his time at the Lions.
Eddie from Elwood
Guest
Wallsy hasn't done much for Bolts' address to the players, looked like and sounded like a first time stage performer last night....... ahhhhhh (look at notes) we need to........ (look at notes) ahhhhh, try to, ahhhhhh move the ball (look at notes)..........
Macca
Roar Rookie
Define significantly.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I just don't like him Col, I think he's irrelevant to today's game and has nothing to offer anymore I freely admit I don't have any basis for this dislike beyond what I have seen and read from him publicly.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Walls also did fairly well as Fitzroy coach in the early eighties. Particularly given their cash-strapped situation even then. I do like the choko vine quip, just for the humour, but it’s a bit unfair on him. He didn’t have a lot to work with during his time with the Bears or with Richmond.
Bluebagger
Guest
If Carlton does not improve significantly by mid season then Bolton is gone, pure and simple. Not even Walls and his dog would be able to save Bolts then.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Pretty harsh PaulD. Walls was the coach that got the Brisbane Bears into the finals and started building the list that would eventually win 3 in a row. What do you base your opinion of him on? Do you know him, have you met him? For the record I do know him (went to the same school and played cricket against him) and caught up with him a couple of years ago when I was in Melbourne. Is it because your opinions differ from his?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Robert Walls couldn't grow a choko vine up a dunny wall