Sam Walsh

Sam Walsh was born on July 2, 2000. He spent his early years in Cobden, Victoria, where he participated in Auskick, and later moved to Darwin, Northern Territory, playing for the Nightcliff Tigers. This early exposure to varied playing conditions contributed significantly to his development. During his secondary schooling, Walsh’s family returned to Victoria, settling in Ocean Grove. He played junior football for St Joseph’s Football Club and attended St Joseph’s College in Geelong. His under-18s career with the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup saw him average 32 disposals per game as co-captain, solidifying his reputation as a top prospect. He also captained Vic Country in the NAB Under 18 Championships, winning the Larke Medal as the competition’s best player, averaging 29 disposals.

Walsh was selected by the Carlton Football Club as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 national draft. He made his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2019 season against Richmond, recording 24 disposals. He received an AFL Rising Star nomination in Round 4, 2019, after a performance against Gold Coast, and earned a contract extension with the Blues until 2022. He set a VFL/AFL record for 24+ disposals in his first six career games and broke the record for most disposals by a first-year player with 554 at an average of 25.2 per game. In 2019, he won the AFLPA Best First Year Player award and the AFL Rising Star award, polling 54 out of a possible 55 votes. He was also named to the AFLPA 22Under22 Team as a wing.

In 2020, Walsh continued his form, leading the club in AFLCA Coaches Votes and winning the AFLCA Best Young Player Award. He was again named to the AFLPA 22Under22 Team. His courageous mark in a game against Port Adelaide earned him the Mark of the Year award. The 2021 season marked a significant professional peak for Walsh; he equaled Marc Murphy’s club record for most disposals in a home & away season with 656, averaging 29.82 per game. His performance led to his selection on the wing for the All-Australian team and he was named captain of the AFLPA 22Under22 Team. He finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal with 30 votes, tying significant club records, and secured his first John Nicholls Medal as Carlton’s Best and Fairest winner. In February 2022, Walsh signed a four-year contract extension with the Blues, committing until at least the end of 2026. Despite injury struggles in recent pre-seasons, he has consistently performed, evident in his third-place finish in the 2024 John Nicholls Medal. He was elevated to co-vice-captain in 2022 and in 2023, he received the Gary Ayres Medal as the AFL player of the finals series after averaging 31 disposals across Carlton’s three finals matches.