The AFL Draft is fast approaching and Carlton is set to be a major player as Cody Walker is widely expected to be taken within the first couple of picks.
Along with Dougie Cochrane, the pair are expected to be the top talent to come out of the draft, and with Walker’s father, Andrew, playing over 200 games for the Blues, he is set to land with Josh Fraser’s side as Carlton will match a bid if it comes.
With Walker training with the Blues this past year, he has been getting an AFL-level education, while still playing VFL and at the championships.
And now with the draft coming up in the next couple of weeks, the excitement will be building.
MORE: Chris Fagan reveals six word answer on why he chose Carlton
But what does he think he will bring to the Blues when the inevitable happens, and Carlton snaps him up?
“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 via Fox Sports.
“Just a powerful, contested player.”
Where will Walker play?
Well, according to draft experts, midfield and a little up forward is the most likely plan of attack for Walker.
Now, we know he won’t be an out-and-out midfielder in his first year, as he is going against seasoned veterans with a handful of pre-seasons behind them, but that won’t mean Fraser won’t put him in to test him out.
Ideally, the Blues would be able to ease Walker into the season and not rely on him for serious minutes and game-winning ability; instead, allow him to quietly go about his game and work on his craft.
Of course, if he is taken at No. 1 overall, that will be hard, but Walker appears ready to make a statement in his first season with the Blues.
And he’s bringing all his strengths to the table to ensure he does it.