CARLTON'S Andrew Walker yesterday provided a valuable insight to the many hurdles he has overcome to play in the big league with Carlton Football Club.
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Drafted by the Blues at number two in 2003, Walker has kicked on to play 75 matches in the AFL since he left the Bendigo Pioneers.
The young gun from Echuca, now 21, was a special guest at yesterday's final day of the Bendigo Pioneers three-day camp.
Walker spoke about the dedication and work rate needed, not just to make the big time, but also the steps along the way from Echuca to the Pioneers, and national titles.
His experience is one that many have done or hope to do.
Walker's journey toward the big league really kicked off four years ago with the Bendigo Pioneers in the then TAC Cup under-18s competition.
'‘As a 15-year-old I played for the Bendigo Pioneers at under-16 country championships and was determined to try my hardest to make the club's under-18s team.
‘‘The transition from living in Echuca to Bendigo and the step up in football took some adjusting to.'' Walker said the greatest change from club football to TAC Cup and then AFL was in work ethic.
‘‘At club level I had a few habits and probably didn't work as hard as I could have.'' Walker said the Pioneers coaching staff, team-mates and support staff played a big part in his improvement as a footballer.
‘‘The TAC Cup was a big step up from playing for Echuca, not just in terms of skill, but also in fitness.
‘‘By the time I went to Carlton my fitness was okay, but skills had to improve, and my strength as well.
‘‘It's only now (in his fourth AFL season) that I believe I have the strength and the endurance to match the elite midfielders in the league.'' Walker's role in 2007 has switched from playing across half-back to more of an on-ball role.
‘‘At first it was more run-with roles, but now Denis (coach Denis Pagan) has urged me to look at is one-on-one.'' Some of Walker's biggest tasks have been opposing Brownlow medallists such as Chris Judd, of West Coast, Jason Akermanis, now Western Bulldogs after leaving Brisbane Lions, Hawthorn's Shane Crawford, and Essendon's James Hird.
‘‘It's an enormous challenge to play against them,'' Walker said.
‘‘It's not just their skills and ability to turn a game, but their gut-running and work ethic.
‘‘The amount of running that Crawford does is ridiculous.
‘‘Hird does a lot when he is not in the contest. He will run 250 m to get to a contest, or put on a block.'' Walker also spoke about the disappointment of missing selection for a Victoria Country under-16 team and how that spurred him on.
‘‘There will always be disappointments, but you can turn it around - hard work is the key.'' After missing last week because of a shoulder injury, Walker is back for the Blues in this Sunday's battle with Melbourne at the MCG.
