Five-time All-Australian Brad Johnson believes now is the time for Carlton to begin working on the next phase of Sam Walsh’s development.
The 2018 No.1 Draft pick has lived up to any and all expectations, quickly becoming one of the game’s elite midfielders.
Carlton’s stacked on-ball unit has often seen Walsh start on a wing or half forward in 2022, yet the 22-year-old is still averaging career highs for disposals (32.8) and inside 50s (five) per game this season.
Walsh celebrates his 22nd birthday on Saturday and is midway through his fourth season at AFL level.
Johnson believes the young gun is now entering the second stage of his career and questioned what the Blues can do now to help Walsh in the future.
“It’s more around what’s next for Sam,” Johnson began on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“He’s an unbelievable player and since he walked in the door and his first performance at the Blues, we all went, ‘wow’.
“He’s been able to maintain that in the first stage of his career, he’s finished his first stage and now he goes into the second phase of 22-26 years of age, and for me, in this period, we’ll get the same from Sam and that’s going to be amazing for Carlton.
“But then I think, even for Sam in his own game and own performance, what’s next in terms of post that?
“25 or 26 years old to 30, is it just the same again? It might be great, but are there other layers he can add to his game?”
Despite the different roles in 2022, Walsh hasn't increased his score involvements and is averaging fewer shots on goal per game than in previous years.
Johnson believes improvement in areas such as these could Walsh add strings to his bow for later in his career.
“I think Carlton needs to start preparing for that now, now is the window of a three of four year period where he plays unbelievable footy and will continue to do that, but they can certainly start working on a marking game for Walsh, or take him forward in certain sessions and teach him some leading patterns,” the former Bulldog said.
“It’s all for the future… now is the time to start adding the layers so they’re unbelievably good when they start to shift his position for the latter part of his career.”
Walsh gathered 33 disposals, six clearances and five insides 50s as the Blues fell short of St Kilda on Friday night.