Samuel Peter Walsh (born 2 July 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was awarded the 2019 NAB Rising Star Award. He was drafted by Carlton with their first selection which was also the first overall in the 2018 national draft.[6]
Sam Walsh | |||
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![]() Walsh as AFL Rising Star in the 2019 AFL Grand Final Parade | |||
Personal information | |||
Full name | Samuel Peter Walsh | ||
Nickname(s) | Worpa, Walshy | ||
Date of birth | (2000-07-02) 2 July 2000 (age 22) | ||
Place of birth | Camperdown, Victoria | ||
Original team(s) | Geelong Falcons (NAB League)[1]/St Joseph's Football & Netball Club | ||
Draft | No. 1, 2018 national draft | ||
Debut |
21 March 2019, Carlton vs. Richmond, at MCG | ||
Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
Weight | 83 kg (183 lb)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder[3][4][5] | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Carlton | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
2019– | Carlton | 81 (31) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 23 2022. | |||
Career highlights | |||
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Walsh played his junior football for Ocean Grove, before playing under-18s football with the Geelong Falcons, in the then-named TAC Cup.[7] He impressed massively and was touted as a sure-fire number 1 draft pick.[8][9] Sam Walsh averaged an astounding 32 disposals a game as their co-captain, which bolstered his draft stock.[10] Labelled as the 'best pure midfielder in the draft', Walsh also played in the NAB Under 18 Championships, where he represented Vic Country as captain. He amassed an average of 29 disposals in the tournament, and also won the Larke Medal as the best player in the competition.[10]
He completed high school at St Joseph's College, Geelong in 2018.
At the 2018 National Draft, Walsh was drafted number 1 by the Carlton Football Club. This was not seen as a surprise to many, who had expected him to be a lock for the first pick.[11] Walsh was given the number 18 and impressed many during pre-season.[12][13][14] Sam made his debut in Round 1 of the 2019 AFL season against Richmond at the MCG, where he finished with 24 disposals.[15][16][17] He kicked his first goal against Sydney in round 3.[18]
Walsh earned an AFL Rising Star nomination in Round 4, following Carlton's two point loss to Gold Coast, after collecting 28 possessions (13 contested), seven clearances, six tackles and a goal.[19] He also earned a contract extension with the Blues, keeping him at the club until 2022.[20][21] Sam was awarded with the 2019 AFL rising star.
After a promising season in 2020, which culminated in his finishing second in the Carlton Best and Fairest, Walsh exploded in season 2021, garnering his maiden All Australian selection, his first John Nicholls Medal as the Carlton Football Club Best and Fairest, and finishing fourth in the Brownlow Medal.
In February 2022, Walsh signed a 4 year extension to stay with the Blues until at least the end of 2026.
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
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G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
2019 | Carlton | 18 | 22 | 6 | 13 | 297 | 257 | 554 | 113 | 69 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 13.5 | 11.7 | 25.2 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 6 |
2020[lower-alpha 1] | Carlton | 18 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 193 | 156 | 349 | 73 | 47 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 9.2 | 20.5 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 8 |
2021 | Carlton | 18 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 298 | 358 | 656 | 127 | 100 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 13.6 | 16.3 | 29.8 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 30 |
Career | 61 | 26 | 23 | 788 | 313 | 1559 | 313 | 216 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 12.9 | 12.6 | 25.6 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 44 |
Carlton Football Club – current squad | |
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* denotes rookie listed players |
John Nicholls Medal · Carlton Football Club best and fairest winners | |
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2021 All-Australian team | |
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Full-back |
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Half-back |
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Centre |
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Half-forward |
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Full-forward |
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Ruck |
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Interchange |
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Coach |
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← 2020 The position of coach in the All-Australian team has been awarded to the coach of the premiership-winning team since 1999. 2022 → |
Ron Evans Medal • AFL Rising Star winners | |
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Alex Jesaulenko Medal · Mark of the Year | |
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2020 22 Under 22 team | |
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Full-back |
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Half-back |
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Centre |
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Half-forward |
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Full-forward |
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Ruck |
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Interchange |
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2019 AFL Rising Star nominees | |
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Italics denote winner |
2018 AFL national draft | |
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First round |
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Second round |
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Third round |
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Fourth round |
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Fifth round |
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Australian Football League number one overall draft picks | |
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