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AFL Daily: Sam Walsh wins Rising Star award, footy news for Friday August 30, 2019
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps says Sam Walsh is a 'perfect human' off the field but has a hair trigger on it. What makes the Rising Star winner snap? RISING STAR RECAP
Described as a “perfect human” by captain Patrick Cripps, Carlton young gun Sam Walsh capped a near-perfect season with a near-perfect score to win the 2019 NAB AFL Rising Star award.
Becoming the first Blues player to win the award in its 27-year history, Walsh polled 54 of a possible 55 votes from the 11 judges to beat Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee (42 votes) and Richmond’s Sydney Stack (28 votes) in a far from surprising result.
The No. 1 draft pick last year, Walsh remarkably played all 22 games for Carlton — one of just three Blues to do so.
The 19-year-old broke the disposal record for a first-year player since Champion Data began recording statistics in 1999, logging 554 disposals in his 22 games at an average of 25.2.
That record had previously been held by Toby Greene, who recorded 539 disposals on debut in 2012.
Walsh also ranked elite among midfielders in the competition for contested possessions (9.6 a game), clearances (3.2 a game) and pressure acts (21.8 a game).
The Rising Star award came a day after Walsh won the Best First Year Player award at the AFL Players’ Association awards.
“It’s a bit surreal, really,” Walsh said of the accolades.
“There are so many moments this year that I will look back on and I do look back on and just think, ‘Did that really happen?’. This is probably one of those moments that I dreamt of but never really thought would happen. It’s a bit of a crazy time.”
Cripps said Walsh while Walsh came across as the “perfect human” off the field, his fierce competitiveness on the field meant he was prone to snapping.
“You get him on the footy field and he’s got a short trigger,” Cripps said.
“He can snap pretty quickly. There’s a few times the boys wind him up when he’s getting really competitive and then you stir him up in the locker-rooms after. But he had a sensational year. I think for a young guy to come in and day one of pre-season the way he attacked training he won the respect straight away.”
Former Western Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy was the only judge to award Rozee top votes.
The Port Adelaide forward also played every game this year, averaging 15.3 disposals and topping the Power’s goalkicking table with 29 majors.
Stack played only 17 games for the Tigers but made an immediate impact in his debut season, averaging 17.2 disposals and 4.3 score involvements primarily playing across halfback.
Updates
Dunstall to lead Crows review
Jason Dunstall and Matthew Pavlich will lead the external review into Adelaide's failed season.
The Crows today named the panel of experts tasked with conducting "a thorough review of its football program".
Hawthorn champion and Fox Footy personality Dunstall will chair the panel. He will be joined by Dockers legend Pavlich, high-performance expert Tim Gabbett and leadership expert Jonah Oliver.
“The panel members have a diverse range of skills, knowledge and expertise across football and high performance programs, and importantly bring a contemporary view of the AFL and professional sporting landscape,” Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman said.
“We hear and acknowledge the concerns of our members and fans, and share their frustration regarding recent on-field performances and this will be a rigorous and thorough process.
“We are committed to challenging ourselves and current practices to ensure the football program is the best it can be, and one that produces results of which our supporters are proud.”
Humble Walsh 'amazed' by Rising Star win
Carlton midfield prodigy Sam Walsh has won the AFL Rising Star award.
The No.1 draft pick played all 22 games for the Blues in his debut season, averaging 25 disposals, five marks and three inside-50s.
Walsh is just the fourth No.1 draft pick to win the Rising Star award, following in the footsteps of Andrew McGrath (2017), Brett Deledio (2005) and Nick Riewoldt (2002).
“To represent the Blues and the history of the club is quite amazing,” he said
“My goal was to do the best for myself and earn the respect of my teammates and that’s what’s landed me here.”
Blues coach David Teague said Walsh had a bright future ahead of him.
“Very few players play every match in their first season and fewer still consistently excite and deliver like he has,” Teague said.
“From the day he arrived at Carlton it was clear in the way he trained and prepared that he was going to be able to compete at the AFL level.
“I think that being a natural listener, a driven competitor and humble, he arrived at Carlton determined to learn which is why I am confident that we will see so much more from him in the years to come.”
JUDGES VOTES
Who didn't give Sam Walsh five votes?
Gillon McLachlan
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Sydney Stack
2 – Bailey Smith
1 – Oscar Allen
Steve Hocking
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Sydney Stack
2 – Bailey Smith
1 – Jordan Clark
Kevin Bartlett
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Sydney Stack
2 – Gryan Miers
1 – Cameron Zurhaar
Kevin Sheehan
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Bailey Smith
2 – Nick Blakey
1 – Gryan Miers
Luke Darcy
5 – Connor Rozee
4 – Sam Walsh
3 – Sydney Stack
2 – Cameron Zurhaar
1 – Jordan Clark
Cameron Ling
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Syndey Stack
2 – Gryan Miers
1 – Cameron Zurhaar
Chris Johnson
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Sydney Sack
3 – Bailey Smith
2 – Liam Baker
1 – Connor Rozee
Mathew Richardson
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Syndey Stack
2 – Bailey Smith
1 – Nick Blakey
Warren Tredrea
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Sydney Stack
2 – Bailey Smith
1 – Xavier Duursma
Danny Frawley
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Baily Smith
2 – Sydney Stack
1 – Jordan Clark
Glen Jakovich
5 – Sam Walsh
4 – Connor Rozee
3 – Baily Smith
2 – Jordan Clark
1 – Sydney Stack
Carlton youngster Sam Walsh has become the first Carlton player to win the Rising Star award.
The No.1 draft pick fell one vote short of the maximum 55 votes, finishing 12 ahead of Port Adelaide's Connor Rozee with Richmond’s Sydney Stack in third.
Walsh played every game in his debut season, averaging 25.2 disposals to record the most disposals for a first-year player in a season.
FINAL VOTING
Sam Walsh 54
Connor Rozee 42
Sydney Stack 28
Bailey Smith 21
Gryan Miers 5
Cameron Zurhaar 4
Jordan Clark 4
Nick Blakey 3
Liam Baker 2
Oscar Allen 1
Xavier Duursma 1
WALSH WINS RISING STAR
Carlton youngster Sam Walsh has become the first Carlton player to win the Rising Star award.
The No.1 draft pick fell one vote short of the maximum 55 votes, finishing 12 ahead of Port Adelaide's Connor Rozee with Richmond’s Sydney Stack in third.
Walsh played every game in his debut season, averaging 25.2 disposals to record the most disposals for a first-year player in a season.
FINAL VOTING
Sam Walsh 54
Connor Rozee 42
Sydney Stack 28
Bailey Smith 21
Gryan Miers 5
Cameron Zurhaar 4
Jordan Clark 4
Nick Blakey 3
Liam Baker 2
Oscar Allen 1
Xavier Duursma 1
The voting from four of the 11 judges have been counted. Here is the early leaderboard:
1. Sam Walsh 19
2. Connor Rozee 17
3. Sydney Stack 13
Someone didn't get Sam Walsh max votes… #aflrisingstar pic.twitter.com/z73JHCOcpz
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) August 30, 2019
AFL MVP Patrick Cripps at the Rising Star award. The Carlton star finished second in 2015 behind Jesse Hogan.
NIC NAT PASSES FIRST TEST
West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui has ramped up his bid for a finals return during a match simulation session today.
Naitanui hasn't played since suffering an ankle syndesmosis injury in Round 17 but is pushing hard for a return against Essendon in next Thursday's elimination final.
Eagles captain Shannon Hurn, however, didn't extend himself as he recovers from a minor hamstring tweak
Naitanui poised for finals return. ~1.75 hrs of match sim, ruck work, full contact & extra sprints – 1 more training at Optus but chance back v @essendonfc.
— Josh Garlepp (@JoshGarlepp) August 30, 2019
Hurn (hamstring) trained away from main group but was unimpeded. @FOXFOOTY @FOXSportsNews pic.twitter.com/yjic8gJt7i
RISING STAR COUNT UPDATE
The voting from four of the 11 judges have been counted. Here is the early leaderboard:
1. Sam Walsh 19
2. Connor Rozee 17
3. Sydney Stack 13
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSomeone didn't get Sam Walsh max votes… #aflrisingstar pic.twitter.com/z73JHCOcpz
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) August 30, 2019
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