Robbo: How Carlton legend Robert Walls hit it off with coach Brendon Bolton in new role

Eyebrows were raised when Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls appeared back in the Blues coaches’ box. Was he there as a mentor or to spy on coach Brendon Bolton, some wondered. Mark Robinson reveals the move is working.

Robert Walls and Brendon Bolton have formed an unlikely alliance at Carlton.

The re-emergence of Robert Walls at Carlton was met with some external scepticism.

After arriving at a club that had won three games and lost 29 of its past 33 games, the astute and forthright Blues legend was viewed from the outside as either a mentor or a spy.

Was Wallsy a strategic plant to review coach Brendon Bolton or was it a strategic play to help not only Bolton, but all the Carlton coaches?

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Robert Walls takes in Carlton training, somewhere he is a permanent fixture these days. Picture: Michael Klein

It’s rare to have a former club great and premiership coach perched behind an experienced senior coach on match-days, pen in hand and clipboard on lap, especially in the midst of a wretched win-loss period.

Yet, four months after the return of Walls, the Blues says the relationship is working wonderfully well, mainly because of Bolton’s absolute acceptance of Walls, and largely because of Walls’ investment and understanding of his role.

Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle accepts why the question would’ve been asked — “Was he a mentor or a spy?” — but acknowledges it was crazy thinking.

“I could see how people externally might’ve thought that, but that’s not the case,’’ he says.

“If the coach got the sense that was what he was there for, there’s no way that would be a comfortable relationship.

“They have an outstanding relationship.

“And it’s important to say Wallsy is not just there for the Bolts, he’s there for all the coaches.

“He comes with a lot of experience and a lot of situations he’s been through. And you can’t buy that.

“When someone is really committed and passionate and they are doing something because they love it, the power that person can have is significant.’’

It’s understood influential Carlton people wanted Walls as a support mechanism for Bolton and his assistants.

No wonder Bolts is smiling — he’s got a legendary premiership coach in his corner. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

The appointment was made by football boss Brad Lloyd, who joined Carlton last August.

Walls was approached in September and after several weeks of consideration and inquiry about job description, he accepted the role.

Anyone who knows Wallsy knows he never does anything half-hearted.

He postponed his annual trip to France with his partner, Julie, not that Julie minded — she’s a passionate Blues supporter and encouraged Walls to go back.

Three times a week, Walls is up at 5.30am at his property near Hepburn to be at Ikon Park by 7am. He stays until at least 2pm.

He’s at every training session, sometimes on the track with the players, and often sits in coaches meetings, team meetings, and line and review meetings.

He also watches VFL games.

Walls is to be a sounding board for Bolton, as well as the 10 assistant coaches.

Clearly, he and Bolton were critical to making this work.

It’s understood Walls told Bolton that be it a day, or a week, or a month, if he didn’t want him there, he’d walk away.

Being a new job, Walls initially was an observer.

He was mindful of winning the trust of all coaches and as it’s turned out, Walls, whose last coaching role was at Richmond in 1997, was also mindful he had to learn modern-day football and its lingo.

Robert Walls holds the premiership cup aloft with former Carlton captain Stephen Kernahan.

Walls hasn’t coached since leaving Richmond in 1997.

That training sessions were filmed and, in part, played back to the players, was certainly a case of teaching an old dog new tricks.

Before too long, trust grew and the likes of Cameron Bruce (midfield), David Teague (forwards) and Dale Amos (defence) tapped into Walls’ knowledge over a coffee.

Bolton also assured Walls that any advice or suggestion was welcomed, whether they were taken on board or not.

It was told to the Herald Sun that Walls’ commitment to the role had progressed from mentor to total investment in the football program and that, at times, he was an enthusiastic old coach wishing to get his hands dirty again.

Remember, he was a hard man Walls and you have to wonder what he’d think of the gallant losses to start the season.

Maybe we do know.

It’s been suggested in these past couple of weeks that Bolton has put more onus on the players, and less emphasis on the green shoots. Walls input? Maybe.

His relationship with Bolton is flourishing.

There wouldn’t be a training session without Bolton having a deep discussion with Walls, be it about training standards and attitude, and on the flip side, Walls is understood to be a huge fan of Bolton’s ability to coach the team and the club.

In essence, Walls thinks Bolton is a terrific coach.

Walls has been impressed by Brendon Bolton’s coaching ability. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Walls is one of several new arrivals who has thrilled the club.

The securing of high-performance guru Andrew Russell from Hawthorn and Lloyd from Fremantle at the end of last season were the major appointments.

Others, such as Meg McArthur (logistics) and Len Villani (operations manager), who were recruited from the Calder Cannons and the Eastern Ranges, have joined the football department.

Former St Kilda and Fremantle defender Zac Dawson is running the next generation academy and is also coaching with the key backmen, while former Swans premiership player Alex Johnson is in a part-time development role with the Northern Blues.

And former AFL staffer Jason Mifsud was appointed indigenous player development co-ordinator.

The appointment of long-time club stalwart Shane O’Sullivan to run the Spirit of Carlton programs, which is driven by former players, has also been viewed as an important appointment.