Sam Walsh is the best young player in the competition.
In any other period of time this would be an obvious call given Walsh was the first pick of the 2018 national draft.
Given the impending mega-draft status the 2018 crop will be receiving – if it hasn’t already – there has been an inordinate amount of talk about redrafting and reranking the quality of players.
And while Connor Rozee has the potential to be the league’s best player, the King twins are incredibly exciting and Gold Coast duo Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine light up the league, Walsh doesn’t deserve to be overlooked.
Player-to-player comparison doesn’t work in a linear fashion given players like Bailey Smith and Matt Rowell are different from Walsh.
Clearly Rowell has shown signs of being a generational talent, but having played only four full games, let’s settle and ease the pressure on the young midfielder.
Sam Walsh has proven to be an above-average AFL standard midfielder from the outset of his career and has been a consistent presence on the outside for Carlton.
And as the team has improved throughout 2020, particularly throughout the middle parts of the season, Walsh has stood out.
(Darrian Traynor/AFL Media/Getty Images)
In terms of a ‘footy frenzy’ MVP for Carlton, look no further than the 20-year-old.
Criticism was levelled at the second-year midfielder for his kicking and inability to impact on games early in the season.
Perhaps averaging an extraordinary 25 disposals and five marks a game in his first season meant Walsh was destined for perceived failure if he couldn’t match those expectations.
While the likes of Rowell, Rozee and Smith started off the season exceptionally well, Walsh played football that was realistically fine for an AFL player but a couple of levels below his young rivals.
Carlton’s overall improvement has come from greater team balance and a strong mix from many contributors, which has resulted in more even output all-round.
Walsh had been allowed to settle more on the outside in the first few matches after the restart while the likes of Michael Gibbons, David Cuningham and Will Setterfield helped Patrick Cripps, with Matt Kennedy coming in a little later.
There was disappointment in his ball use, but Walsh was playing okay football in his second season, which wasn’t good enough for pundits and seemingly warranted criticism.
Since the competition became condensed, with short turnarounds and crammed fixtures, very little has been spoken about the early season redrafting and the exploits of those who thrived early.
Connor Rozee has dropped off completely, turning his A-grade output in the opening three rounds into a serious case of second-year blues before his injury.
Perhaps Port Adelaide felt it was too early to rely on their young star for an entire season, although Zak Butters has impressively stood up since.
Sam Walsh of the Blues (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Bailey Smith started as a key member of the Bulldogs centre bounce group, applying plenty of pressure and getting a decent amount of contested ball, but as the season has gone on, he looks a little fatigued and has settled into the role of a midfielder-forward, rotating through the guts rather than continuing on as a key centreman.
The Kings and Rankine are still exciting in spurts, Caleb Serong has emerged as a good player for Fremantle and Nick Coffield deserves to be mentioned for his role across St Kilda’s defence.
But as fatigue sets in across the competition, it’s Sam Walsh who has thrived and taken his game back up to an elite level.
Streets ahead of any other player under the age of 21 during this period of time, Walsh’s fitness and desire to work hard has been a staple as to what to expect from Carlton.
Perhaps the turning point was the Port Adelaide game pre-frenzy and in particular the incredible courage backing into the pack in front of Charlie Dixon.
In the opening six games of the season Walsh averaged 18.2 disposals, 3.8 marks, 1.5 clearances, 4.2 inside 50s, one rebound 50 and 5.3 turnovers per game.
He kicked no goals and collected 35.7 per cent of his possessions in a contested manner during that time.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Over his past five games Walsh has averaged 18.6 disposals, 4.2 marks, 3.6 clearances, 3.4 inside 50s, 2.2 rebound 50s and a decreased 4.2 turnovers per game.
Adding five goals in those five games and an improved 45.7 per cent of his possessions being contested, Walsh has been all over the ground for Carlton and been far more damaging in the contest.
While the turnovers are still on the high side, playing more on the inside lends itself to an increased likelihood of clangers.
The 20-year-old is getting to almost every contest when he’s on the field and spreading into space more and more as the players around him get tired.
It means he can work harder between the arcs and provide assistance offensively and defensively, which Carlton highlight reels will show viewers.
His impressive form culminated in a near best-afield performance against Fremantle in Round 12’s incredible win, finishing with 24 disposals, seven clearances, 11 contested possessions and a goal.
Hopefully this can be a turning point in universal opinions and acknowledgment of what Carlton fans already know: that they have a star at 20 years of age.
In the most unique period of time seen in AFL history, in a season initially defined by shortened quarters and putting question marks on the influence of players with strong fitness bases, Walsh has risen above most other players in the competition regardless of age.
Holding players to a high standard is a great sign of their respect and talent, but letting a small sample size define them and subsequently lead to criticism is another example of continued recency bias that seems to be the pillar of modern analysis.
Sam Walsh was the best first-year player in 2019 by far and after 12 rounds in 2020 has proven to be just as good and arguably more influential on Carlton when footy has become difficult.
Until we see an extended period of Matt Rowell or a sustained run of excellent footy from any other recent draftee, this fact is undisputed.
No-one else is rivalling his first 33 games, and no-one will for a long time.
Sam Walsh is the best young player in the competition and it’s time we started appreciating him.
Simon Wallace
Guest
Well written and ain't that the truth Walsh will one day go down as one of the best we have ever seen.
Scott
Guest
Yep I actually completely agree with everything you’re saying there. At the time I was trying to decide who you would take with the number 1 pick because Walsh was perhaps the most proven number 1 ever. How can you not want to take a guy that has performed in every single game he ever played. You know he is the player that will be in the top 10 of every Brownlow for a decade. Lukosius and Rankine were just complete freaks though and the best I’ve ever seen. Lukosius was perhaps the only ever guaranteed key position Forward hit. Just with the way he runs players off their legs, he is a Nick Riewoldt clone with a better kick. Rankine was the most talented and exciting I’ve ever seen. At the time I personally rated Smith at 3 and Walsh at 4, just because Smith seemed to have more of a game breaking style. I had the king twins at 5 and 6 because as key forwards they had as high a ceiling as there could be, though there are heaps of misses with tall forwards. Im only rearranging now as they have all proven they will be stars But you can never be disappointed in taking the sure thing at 1. Walsh was the rightful number 1 pick at the time and earned it in a harder year then ever to earn it, and you’re right, as a runner he will benefit from the longer quarters. He could be a good smokie for next years Brownlow if Cripps is still getting the main tag.
Macca
Roar Rookie
It has to be remembered when reordering the draft what the teams needed, the blues didn't need another tall to Lukosius and the King twins were never going to go 1. Of the other 3, you have in the top 6, they all look like being high quality players but Walsh was the safest bet at the time and had the "leadership" qualities the blues were looking for to put into a young list. I also think Walsh will benefit from teh quarters going back to 20 minutes next year.
Tom
Guest
Don't forget against Freo he also ran 1.2km longer than the next best player. Defensive and forward gut running.
AFLLover
Guest
Cracking article, there is absolutely no doubt Sam Walsh will have a great career. Just an absolute Jet building his body up for the rigours of a more inside role. In the games I’ve seen he’s been playing wing far more than he did last year, when you take that into account and 20% less game time he’s actually tracking just as good as he was in 2019. His greatest strength is his aerobic capacity to get from contest to contest, he was blowing up seasoned footballers last year with his running capacity late in quarters. Something that has been diluted because of the shorter games this year, next year he’ll be fitter than ever with more hardened footballers body ready to move into the centre full time. What a draft 2018 was, just incredible talent deep into the first round and beyond.
Rippa86
Roar Rookie
Walsh just needs some composure. Seems to rush and turn the ball over easily instead of taking a second to hit up a target. Seeing his work rate and mentally in training, I have no question that it'll improve with experience. Bailey Smith is a freak, by far the best midfielder from that draft. (Carlton fan)
Slane
Guest
I remember Walsh's debut against my team. He had a lot of the ball but turned it over every time he kicked it. A year and a half later and not an awful lot has changed. Walsh may one day be deserving of a place amongst the top echelon of players, but he has a lot of contemporaries that are doing more damage than he is. I can forgive Cripps not being as damaging as Dusty or Dangerfield because of how he is a contested ball beast. Walsh feels like a good blend of inside/outside player but he can't use the ball like an outside player and doesn't yet win the ball like Cripps.
Scott
Guest
Draft nerd putting in my 2 cents here. Walsh is a star level player but the top of that draft was ridiculous. If they were redrafted today I’d still rank them 1. Rankine 2. Lukosius 3/4. King twins 5. Smith 6. Walsh 7. Rozee That is absolutely no disrespect to Rozee, Walsh or Smith. I reckon we could rank the best prospects of the last 10 years and that list would almost be identical. Everyone is sleeping on Lukosius. He will become a forward in the next few years and be unreal. Smith could become the best midfielder in the game and the king twins may become unstoppable beasts. Everyone’s already seen what Rozee can do and Rankine is perhaps the most talented of all time. Apart from what we saw Rowell do in his 1st few games all of them would go number 1 in every other year
Nico
Roar Rookie
I’d pick Smith for the hair.... Smith & Oscar Allen.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Hmmm, I think the use of words like ‘undisputed’ and ‘fact’ might be a bit of a stretch. He’s definitely got some talent however so do others. After watching Naughton against Adelaide I’d be taking him over Walsh in a heartbeat. Relatively speaking talented midfielders are a dime a dozen, dominate key forwards are not.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
A consistent team of Good players will beat a team with a few Great players
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Best young player or not, haters gonna hate! All can see his potential on being a consistent A grade professional footballer who loves the sport. Better than a flash in the pan type
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Very good or great? There’s lots of good player who have played for a long time. I can’t see Walsh becoming a great player though.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Walsh will be a very good player over a very long time.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Who?
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Walsh has 24 touches “on the outside” yesterday; Smith had 37 “on the inside” today. Smith is more dynamic, has better hair and plays for my team; I’d take him over Walsh any day. Naughton is also better than him; his stats stack up with Carey at the same age, and Carey is the best player ever.
Blitz
Guest
“ No-one else is rivalling his first 33 games, and no-one will for a long time.” Oscar Allen’s first 31 games as a key defender, forward AND ruck has been mightily impressive. More so when you consider that 194cm players take longer to develop and that his versatile set of skills is so, so much rarer than those of a midfielder, and he can kick. No disrespect to Walsh as he’s a fine player with a bright future but I’d take Allen and Naughton ahead of him any day of the week.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
yeah, Nah. Matt Rowell is the best young player in the AFL by a distant margin. Shame he was injured early in the season. The next Ablett/Judd I suspect.