It feels like Cody Walker has been a Carlton player for quite some time.

It won’t be a formality until the night of November 19, when the Blues match a rival bid on the 18-year-old likely within the first three picks.

But the way Walker speaks about his soon-to-be club and teammates he’s already cultivated relationships with, coupled with his integration into the AFL program this year, he may as well have been donning a navy blue polo at the Draft Combine.

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He will follow in the footsteps of his father, Andrew — who played 202 games for Carlton after also arriving as a top draft selection in 2002 — and should make an immediate impact within Josh Fraser’s team in 2027.

But it wasn’t always a foregone conclusion that Andrew’s son would choose the path of football romanticism, despite picking the Blues more than a year before the nomination deadline.

In fact, Cody revealed just how close he came to pledging allegiance to Richmond via its Next Generation Academy.

“It was probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make,” he told Foxfooty.com.au at the Combine.

“A month before my decision, I had a meeting with both Carlton and Richmond about why they wanted me at their club. Richmond gave me an unbelievable meeting and speech about why they wanted me.

“Carlton also did a really good job, but Richmond was really good, and I was really close with Richmond due to family reasons, and I had cousins playing in their NGA as well.

“Both decisions were really hard, but at the end of the day, I just went with my heart, and I’m glad I did.”

Cody Walker dominated during AFL National Draft Combine Testing in October, scoring a personal-best 6:04 2km time trial mark — third among participants. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Richmond has a rich Indigenous history, with the Korin Gamadji Institute a cornerstone at Punt Road. The club has produced the likes of 300-game triple premiership great Shane Edwards, nine-year teammate Daniel Rioli, and fellow premiership livewire Shai Bolton.

Walker, a proud Yorta Yorta man, described his Tigers experience as “super special”, praising the club’s Indigenous program and embracing of culture.

“As people know, I’m really close with my culture, and as a proud Yorta Yorta boy, I get noticed as a really good Indigenous footy player,” he said.

“Richmond does such a good Indigenous program; they make you realise how good culture is, and they’ve had some unbelievable Indigenous players throughout their program that made me think I could be one of them.

“That’s the reason why I was so close with Richmond, and I had so many family members and friends there.

“I definitely thought about pros and cons of both clubs, and there was definitely some consideration of what it would be like if I did end up going to Richmond.”

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But as Walker says, “that’s passed now”, and the talented midfielder-forward is well and truly casting his eye towards a long career in navy blue.

The 18-year-old was a “full-time” participant in Carlton’s AFL program this year, and he’s already fostered tight-knit relationships with emerging youngsters Jagga Smith and Harry Dean.

“It was obviously pretty surreal, not even being a listed player training at AFL level for a whole year,” Walker said of the experience.

“I built so many great connections, and I’ve got one of my best mates who recently got delisted, Harry Charleson. He and I started to create a really good bond … We’re probably going to start living together next year or maybe the years to come.

“I’ve built really good relationships, especially the young core, to see how good they’re going, and they’re some of my best mates now.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given there, and to potentially end up at Carlton is going to be a little bit easier in that sense, but I want to earn the respect of all my teammates.”

Cody Walker is well-integrated at Carlton, pictured here kicking a footy at training with club captain Patrick Cripps in the background. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Walker played in seven VFL games for the Blues this year, earning valuable experience in a system he continues to learn.

He averaged 22.2 disposals and kicked 3.6 across those outings, flashing his signature burst and spread from stoppage, as well as his ability to hit the scoreboard.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for a draftee to get a VFL gig so early and try to boost his stocks or try to get more confidence in the way he’s playing, and that’s what happened,” Walker said.

“I went out there to go play VFL and didn’t know what I was expecting, and I just gained plenty of confidence from that.

“And knowing that I can go up against AFL bodies, which made me so confident going back to junior footy, knowing that I’ve been playing against AFL/VFL players for the past five weeks.”

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Asked to describe himself as a player, Walker said people should see a “powerful midfielder”.

“I think the strengths in my game are (my) burst out of stoppage, accumulating at stoppage; my stoppage craft is what I believe is my one-wood,” he said.

“Just a powerful, contested player.”

Truly one of one, Walker doesn’t model himself on any AFL footballer, but expressed his admiration for a triple premiership Lions star’s habits.

“I love the way Will Ashcroft goes about his business and how professional he is, but also how he translates it to game day,” Walker said.

“To see what he did a couple of weeks ago (in the grand final win over Fremantle) is pretty cool.

“I also love the way Isaac Heeney plays – and to see how good a presence he is up forward, but also in the midfield, is a great comparison to myself, I think.”

Walker hasn’t shied away from the fact that disposal polish is one of his key improvement points. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Despite his prodigious talent, no draft prospect is faultless, and the popular knock on Walker has been his kicking polish.

And if we learnt one thing about Fraser’s Blues, use by foot is critical to the way they want to play.

But Walker says film reviews as well as invaluable sessions with Greg Williams and Jordan Russell have helped the dynamic young gun improve that area of his game.

“I go back and watch snippets of myself, and that’s why I’m so thankful for Carlton; they have coaches that do it for me, and they tell me what I need to improve on,” Walker said.

“Polish and disposal efficiency is one that I’ve worked on so hard throughout the year. I think early in the year I just lost a little bit of confidence with it, and then got to work on it.

“I knew if I put the work in, I’d be confident with it, and I did. And towards the back end of the year, I thought my disposal efficiency and kicking ended up a lot better than what it was, and I was really confident in the way I was going.

“I had some sessions with the likes of ‘Diesel’ Williams; not many kids get to do that. It gave me plenty of confidence. And Jordan Russell … I can’t thank him enough as well for what he’s done for me.”

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The AFL National Academy was one of five teams Cody Walker played on this year – along with Bendigo Pioneers, Vic Country, and his hometown Echuca Football Club. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Walker’s impending arrival in the AFL has been documented for the better part of 18 months; the sort of talent he is, how high he’d go on draft night, and whether Carlton had the draft capital to match a rival bid on him.

But with most of those questions answered, it’ll soon become about trying to meet the lofty external expectations bestowed upon him as a high draft pick.

While the Blues won over fans with their Fraser-led resurgence in the second half of this year, they’re still a way off genuine premiership contention. And the heights that Walker can reach in his career will at least partially dictate how far Carlton goes.

But that’s the sort of pressure Walker is ready and willing to embrace, honoured to be in such a position.

“The way I see it, it’s a privilege to be named as such a good player. I’ve got so many good people supporting me behind the scenes and that people don’t really notice,” he said.

“But I really see it as an exciting thing, more so than pressure. But yeah, there always is that little bit of pressure. But I think that’s why people play well, because they’re under pressure, and you wouldn’t if you didn’t care about it.

“I enjoy it all, and I think it’s a privilege.”

Walker was on a “full schedule” with the Blues this year, spending around six days a week at the club when he was playing VFL games.

It’s meant he’s gotten “really close” with fellow young guns Smith and Dean, while also ingratiating himself with the club’s stalwart stars.

Cody Walker running alongside Jagga Smith, Lucas Camporeale and Lewis Young during Carlton preseason training in January. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“I’m really close with all that young core, also (with) ‘Crippa’ and ‘Walshy’, considering that I might be a part of that midfield, sort of forward group next year,” he said.

“And I think it’s a pretty cool thing that ‘Crippa’ played with my dad, and now he’s potentially going to play with me.

“I think it’s (something) that’s never really happened before. I think we’re creating a really good bond.”

In September, Walker – who’s pumped to get to work with ‘Frase’ – was left excited by Carlton’s young talent, which helped propel it to a wildcard final win over Melbourne.

“I think just seeing how the young group, young core, went about it in finals and seeing five out of their eight best players were under 22, and I’m really good friends with them now, and I think we’ve got a really bright future ahead,” he said.

“I’ve had a lot to do with Frase … He’s just a country lad as well, from Mansfield, so we get on really well.

“I love his coaching style, and I can’t wait to potentially be under his belt. And I can’t wait for the next couple of years to see what it holds.”

There’s never been a doubt in Walker’s mind about his footy intentions, with father, Andrew, a perfect role model to guide him down the professional path.

“I’ve always wanted to play at the AFL level,” he said.

“I think in the early days, as a lot would, (I was) not as interested in footy — I was just a kid that sort of wanted to have fun and just went to school and all that.

“But the past six years, when I realised I actually wasn’t too bad at footy, it’s always been a dream, and I’ve always worked hard for it.

“I just can’t wait for the night to come and hopefully get my name read out and see how it all unfolds from there.

“There’s always a lot of mixed emotions. A lot goes on from now until (draft night), just with club meetings and what gets told. You picture it every day, what’s going to happen.

“Hopefully I do end up at the (Blues). Can’t wait.”

It’s now less than a month before his lifelong dream is finally realised.