The spotlight has fallen well and truly on Carlton number one draft pick Sam Walsh after his 28-disposal performance in the JLT Series win over Essendon.
Two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King was equally impressed, but also doesn’t believe what we saw was a flash in the pan, saying all of Walsh’s junior numbers back up his performance.
“You read the AFL Prospectus on Sam Walsh, and I think he’s a lock for the Rising Star, I’ll just read you this – ‘Walsh is the best ball-winner we have ever recorded as a junior’. That’s the first line," he told SEN's Whateley.
“They’ve tracked a lot of players.
“What he’s done in his first two practice games, he’s done through is junior career and that isn’t going to stop.
“He may struggle against some big bodies early, but the volume of possessions he gets will always be what he gets.”
King also liked what he saw from Carlton’s top five pick from the 2017 National Draft in Paddy Dow.
“It was great to see that he was the Paddy Dow we were hoping to see (on Thursday night),” he said.
“If you’ve got three or four of these guys, Patrick Cripps is a superstar, but if you’ve got another two or three of them to go with him, gee you’re away then.”
The Blues take on Richmond in Round 1 on the Thursday night to open the season.
