AFL 2018: Guy Walker signs on as rookie at Melbourne after five years with Victorian Bushrangers

As a cricketer, Guy Walker had everything except the quality he most needed — the fitness to match his dash. After a horror injury run, the 22-year-old has signed with Melbourne.

Guy Walker has made the switch from professional cricket to AFL, signing on with Melbourne. Picture: Penny Stephens

As a cricketer, Guy Walker had everything except the quality he most needed — the fitness to match his dash.

He was a member of Footscray’s 2013-14 premiership team in his teens and spent five seasons in Victoria’s squad.

Guy Walker. bends his back for Melbourne Renegades. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The now 22-year-old represented Australia in an Under-19 World Cup and made one appearance for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.

Good enough to take the new ball in Premier Cricket before he was eligible for his driver’s licence and a more-than handy batsman, it’s no wonder Victoria pounced on the prodigious talent.

However, luck deserted Walker and robbed him of crucial years of development.

While fast bowlers breaking down is nothing new, the Nottingham-born Walker has spent more time in rehab than charging in at opposition batsmen.

He lost his contract with Victoria after last summer.

The mental toll of constant injury setbacks would get the better of most, but Walker’s time as a professional sportsman is not over. He will start life at Melbourne Football Club in November after signing on as a Category B rookie.

While the switch would have caught most by surprise, Walker was an accomplished footballer with Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong Park as a junior and graduated to Calder Cannons’ TAC Cup program before making the call to take the cricket route.

He played with current AFL-listed players Touk Miller, Rory Atkins and Peter Wright. He also took the field alongside Melbourne’s Joel Smith, his best mate and house mate in South Yarra.

Guy Walker will join his best friend, Joel Smith, at Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

“It was probably a two-month journey trying to work out which club was best for me and ended up at Melbourne,” Walker said.

“I made the decision after that last shoulder surgery that it was time now and I wanted to start looking at footy.

“I went to England for a bit (in April), tried to clear my head and a few clubs were interested.

“It sort of ramped up after cricket finished and a few clubs found out I lost my contract.”

Walker’s father, Lyndsay, played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire in England and the family moved to Melbourne when Walker was aged six.

His last game of footy was an under-16s practice match for Calder.

He was an onballer then, but is more likely now to fill a role as a speedy half-back or half-forward who uses the ball well.

“There were actually a few clubs who had reports from that game seven years ago,” Walker said.

“It’s amazing how footy has gone and a lot of recruiting managers are all over it.

“Obviously when a (Victorian cricket) contract is in your face at 17, it’s pretty hard to say no.”

Guy Walker is looking forward to returning to the footy field. Picture: Penny Stephens

It is reasonable to ask if Walker’s body can withstand the rigours of top-level footy.

As a young fast bowler he confronted standard niggles.

But worse was to come — two bouts of shoulder surgery, back stress fractures and a hamstring complaint.

Last season, Walker managed five games for Footscray and in 2016-17 he was sidelined for an entire summer.

“I felt something in my shoulder that wasn’t quite right and had scans for about six months and got that shoulder operation in September, 2016,” Walker said.

“There was rehab, an anchor left on the back of the labrum, so I had to get another surgery to remove that.

“Then the second surgery was August, 2017, to remove the anchor and then missed last season due to it.

“That shoulder injury was quite an unfortunate event as well. I sort of had scans for six months and nothing showed up so I kept playing and it kept making it worse and worse.

“Then I got surgery and that surgery unfortunately was like a one in a 1000 (chance) with an anchor left on the back of the labrum and had to get it removed and missed another year.

“When I did have an injury, it was like a really long injury.”

But there is good news for Melbourne supporters.

Walker’s troublesome right shoulder has mended, paving the way for him to attack pre-season.

“The shoulder’s literally as good as it could be,” he said.

“I’ve been seeing (physiotherapist) Lyn Watson, the shoulder guru, twice a week for the last two years and I’ve been training quite a bit for footy with big fellas nailing me and I feel good to go with footy.

“Lyn said, ‘your shoulder is good to go with footy and as good as it could be’.”

Guy Walker appeals for a wicket while playing for Footscray in 2013. Picture: Glenn Daniels

Walker is ready to move on from his misfortune, but it is hard to ignore what he could have become had he not been whacked by the injury stick.

Excitement in the voices of people involved at Footscray was palpable as Walker neared a comeback.

Not only did he offer plenty with bat and ball, he simply deserved an opportunity.

He was often referred to as a ‘recruit’, given his injury struggles.

“It was quite tough over the last two and a half years,” Walker said.

“It was a kick in the teeth for me, that second surgery, where I went in and said I knew something wasn’t quite right.

“Obviously I needed to have a good season last year to try and get back so it was pretty tough.

“But I was quite busy away from cricket and had some good support around me, so it made it a lot easier. It was tough mentally, but I try not to think about it too much.

“You keep busy and spend a lot of time with friends and family.”

At his best, Walker could send the speed gun into the 140km/h range.

He was pragmatic when asked if he thought he got a proper opportunity.

“You can have as much potential as you can, but if you keep getting injured you’re not really valuable to anyone,” Walker said.

“Obviously it would have been nice to have a run at it and see where I possibly could have got. Some of my best mates now that I lived with when I was playing (Australian) under-19s, they’re playing for Australia now and that.

“You never know. I could have played and not been up to it. It just would’ve been nice to know, wouldn’t it?

“It’s nice to see mates do well, but it would have been nice to see where I could have gone”

Walker will be forever grateful to those at Merv Hughes Oval for their support.

And he has pledged to back the Dogs for years to come as he tries to establish himself in the AFL ranks.

“They’ve been unbelievable to me my whole career, obviously giving me what a lot of clubs don’t do now,” he said.

“When I was 15, 16, they threw me straight into the ones and said, ‘you’re opening the bowling.’

“That did wonders for my career. Playing First XI cricket probably got me used to bowling to some pretty serious players and that ultimately set me up to play Vic 19s and Aussie 19s against some good cricketers.

“That’s how I got my contract at the start.

“I can’t thank them enough and some of my best mates still play there.

“I’ll still be going down most Saturdays to see them and offer whatever I can to help them out this season and seasons ahead.”

Guy Walker was a member of Footscray’s 2013-14 Premier Cricket flag. Picture: Arj Giese

Former Footscray coach Steve Chapman, who led the club to its last premiership, said Walker would be missed.

“We were all keen for him to get fit and start playing again,” Chapman said.

“Hopefully footy will provide him with some avenues to start enjoying sport again. He’s had it tough for a while now with what’s happened to his body.

“He’s an excellent sportsman and it’s no surprise he’s found his way into another sport at a high level.

“Time will tell how successful he will be, but there are plenty at Footscray who will be wishing him well.”

Walker will take part in limited approved training sessions with the Demons in coming months before joining the main squad and has taken phone calls from coach Simon Goodwin and co-captain Jack Viney.

He has also been in contact with Adelaide defender Alex Keath, who completed his transition from cricket to football in 2017.

“I actually spoke to ‘Keathy’ not too long ago and he said your skills come back pretty quick, but the hardest thing is obviously getting your running capacity back and getting your head around the strategies,” Walker said.

“I enjoyed playing footy more than cricket my whole life, but cricket took off when I was at that age.

“Especially having the injuries over the last few years, my love for cricket has slowly deteriorated.

“My love for footy has always been there, so I just can’t wait to get in there and start my program.”