In many ways, former Bendigo Pioneer Andrew Walker typifies the rise of the Carlton Football Club.
Drafted to the Blues in the midst of the club’s darkest days in 2003 – a year after it was found guilty of rorting the salary cap – Walker resembled Carlton’s hope for the future.
Both he and the Blues have experienced some up-and-down seasons since, but the anticipation of better times ahead always remained.
Last year that anticipation materialised into results.
A switch from the midfield to the forward line rejuvenated Echuca-raised Walker in 2011, as he led Carlton’s goal-kicking and helped the club to its first finals win since 2001.
Offered as trade bait after the 2010 season, Walker signed a three-year contract extension in August last year.
After 127 games for the Blues, he is now intent on achieving finals glory at Carlton.
“I guess that would make it complete,” Walker said at Carlton’s Community Camp in Rochester yesterday.
“I obviously got drafted there nine years ago and (I’ve got) life membership (at Carlton) now.
“You never like to talk about it, but getting towards the later end of your career obviously the finals are the most important thing and that Grand Final would just be the icing on the cake.”
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Carlton coach Brett Ratten has publicly declared the Blues are aiming for a flag as soon as this year, which Walker admitted has put the squad under pressure to perform.
He said Ratten has encouraged the team to take confidence from last year’s elimination final demolition of Essendon, which 25-year-old Walker said was a bigger highlight for 2011 than the screamer he took – also against the Bombers – in round 18.
“I’ll be trying to take a few more of those grabs, but I guess the highlight of the year was winning that one final that we’ve been trying to win,” he said.
“Hopefully (we’ll) continue on with that and win two this year and maybe the grand final.”
Walker said the Blues’ workload on the training track had been “intense” this pre-season, but the team had some time off yesterday to visit schools in Rochester and surrounding areas as part of their two-day community camp, which began in Kyabram on Tuesday.
“It’s obviously good to get back to the country and give a little bit back to the places that support us,” Walker said.
“They don’t get the opportunity to get down to many games and we get to spread the word and get our boys to get out and meet the locals.
“The people of Kyabram were fantastic to us all day on Tuesday, I ended up knowing a few of them. It’s good to mingle with the locals and have a bit of fun. It’s only 20 minutes down the road so I’ve got the opportunity to get home and see the family.”
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