IT started in a blaze of glory in 2004 and on Sunday Andrew Walker’s AFL career with Carlton will come to a close.
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Walker will play his 202nd and final AFL game for the Blues when they take on St Kilda at the MCG after calling time on his career earlier this week, with the effects of a troublesome left knee dating back to 2014 having finally taken its toll.
The 30-year-old holds the mantle as the highest pick in an AFL National Draft from the Bendigo Pioneers when he was taken by the Blues with selection two in 2003.
A look back through the Bendigo Advertiser archives this week leading into the 2003 National Draft revealed a 17-year-old Year 11 student at Echuca’s St Joseph’s College not fazed by all the hype that had him touted as a likely pick No.2 behind a red-headed South Australian named Adam Cooney.
“I’m just going to wait for the day to come and I’ll know then,” Walker said.
“But until then, I’m not going to let the pressure get to me.”
Walker’s draft status soared during 2003 off the back of his performance for Victoria Country at the Under-18 National Championships.
Walker was named the best player for Victoria Country, and later in the year was voted the best finals player for the Pioneers during their September campaign, which ended at the hands of the Murray Bushrangers in a preliminary final.
“Everyone has to step up in finals and I think I stepped up well and took on board some responsibility with the team,” Walker later said in draft week.
“I’m always willing to work hard. At the draft camp I pushed myself to be the number one in the 3 km run, but that’s just the way I am and I don’t think it’s ever going to change.”
Walker being selected at No.2 by the Blues far exceeded what were some fairly modest goals he had set with the Pioneers in 2003, with whom he was still eligible to play for in 2004.
“My goals were just to have a good season with the Pioneers and I was always just hoping for the best,” he said.
“I had a pretty solid year and I worked hard enough to get into the Vic side, where I reckon I proved myself pretty well.
“There was good coaching all year and great team-mates, which helped a lot.
“To tell you the truth, I really didn’t think I’d get this far, but I worked hard and am reaping the rewards.”
The Pioneers coach of 2003 was Rod Macpherson, who described Walker as having the same “freakishness” as Brisbane Lion Darryl White.
“He has great ball-handling skills, a big leap and speed,” Macpherson added.
Pioneers’ regional manager Ray Byrne shared the same sentiment as McPherson in labelling Walker a player who “has all the tools”.
“He’s going to be one of the stars of the AFL if he continues to develop as he has this year,” Byrne said.
Come draft day there were no surprises when the Western Bulldogs took Cooney with pick No.1, before the Blues – coming off a season in which they finished 15th with just four wins – swooped on Walker at No.2 with a priority pick.
“It’s such a strong club and it will be great going to a club like that,” Walker said after returning to Echuca from the draft at Melbourne Park.
“It’s still sinking in – I’ve watched the draft video about three times and it’s just weird because the thing I’ve dreamed of since I was younger has finally come true.”
To tell you the truth, I really didn’t think I’d get this far, but I worked hard and am reaping the rewards
- Andrew Walker - November, 2003
And at No.3 went another Bendigo Pioneer – Colin Sylvia – who was selected by Melbourne and would go on to play 163 AFL games: 157 with the Demons and six with Fremantle.
The Blues’ coach at the time was Denis Pagan, who told the Bendigo Advertiser in February of 2004 of the early impression Walker had made in his first three months at the club.
“He’s a quality kid with a terrific upbringing who looks the part,” Pagan said.
“He’s looking terrific at the moment; we’re pleased with the way he’s going, and everyone at Carlton is excited by him.”
And the excitement was amplified two months later when Walker produced one of the AFL’s most stunning debuts.
It was round five, 2004, when Walker, wearing the No.1 guernsey, exploded onto the AFL scene with 26 disposals, nine marks, four tackles and a Brownlow Medal vote and Rising Star nomination in the Blues’ 14.8 (92) to 6.7 (43) victory over the West Coast Eagles at Princes Park.
That memorable debut came as no surprise to his former Pioneers’ coach Macpherson.
“If you look at his form when he has played for Australia in Gaelic football, for Vic Country at the national titles, and in the finals for us last year… he obviously loves the extra speed on the game,” Macpherson said.
“A lot of people struggle when the tempo goes up, but he seems to relish it and fit in more smoothly to footy that’s quicker and slicker.”
That was 12 years ago, and Walker has since gone on to become the first indigenous player to reach 200 games for Carlton, win pre-season premierships in 2005 and 2007, receive Blues’ life membership in 2011 and win the club’s goalkicking the same year with 56.
“It’s been an incredible 13 years of my life,” Walker said this week
“In those 13 years I’ve had some amazing years. I’ve had a few downs with a few injuries, which is probably why I’m sitting up here today. I just can’t do my job anymore.”
It’s coming to an end, but it has been job well done.