Loading
By then, the core of the Bluesโ team will be built around a next-generation midfield of Walsh, Jagga Smith and father-son prospect Cody Walker, key defenders Harry Dean and Harry OโFarrell and the suite of first-round picks acquired through Curnowโs departure.
The retention of Walsh on its own will not keep coach Michael Voss (in the last year of his contract) at the helm, but it does not hurt. Ultimately, the win-loss column will determine Vossโ fate, though his capacity to modernise the teamโs play away from the over-reliance on the crash and bash contest style will also be a key factor.
In the final year of his contract, Voss can at least concentrate on his job without a repeat of the โwill he stay or will he goโ free agency distraction that accompanied De Koning in 2025.
The Carlton that Voss is overseeing this year is in marked contrast to that of 12 months ago when there was a heaviness at the club. Dramas such as the Luke Sayers lewd photo scandal, season-ending knee injuries to Nic Newman and Smith, Curnowโs slew of surgeries and the off-field struggles of McKay and Elijah Hollands to name a few did not lighten the mood. Then came the disaster of round one against Richmond, from which the Blues did not recover.
That Walsh has stayed โ and he said never entertained the idea of leaving โ is an endorsement of the environment Wright, new football boss Chris Davies and Voss have created since the darkness of last winter.
Walsh, too, has played a part in what he described late last year as in the โno bullshitโ mentality the club has adopted.
Loading
With his injury history, it would have been understandable if he had sat out last year with his foot injury instead of coming back to play two dead rubbers. His approach was notably different to that taken by Curnow and Silvagni, who finished the year in the stands and at new clubs.
Walsh arrived at Carlton when the club was at the bottom, and has recommitted while the Blues are again at a low ebb after a brief period in contention.
โI think weโve delved in deep to the identity of a team we want to be this year, and kept it about us, not about what other people think or what other teams are doing,โ Walsh said. โSo that gave me a strong, strong belief that weโll end up being the team we want to be, if we can stick at that.โ
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
