AFL commentators blown away by Blues special talent Sam Walsh

Carlton No. 1 draft pick Sam Walsh blew minds in his JLT Series debut against Essendon — despite already impossible expectations on his shoulders.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: Sam Walsh of the Blues runs with the ball during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Essendon Bombers at Ikon Park on February 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The usual hope Carlton fans smell in February every year seems very different in 2019.

The reason, simply, is No. 1 draft pick Sam Walsh.

The teenager blew minds in his JLT Series debut against Essendon in Melbourne on Thursday night as the Blues had to survive a frenetic Essendon fightback before prevailing 15.10 (100) to 14.7 (91). The scoreboard didn’t matter nearly as much as Walsh’s statline.

He was the talk of the AFL.

Fox Footy commentator Cam Mooney even declared he hoped Walsh finished the game with a bad quarter out of fear that the hype building around the Geelong Falcons product was simply getting out of hand.

The hype around Walsh may only be beginning.

Blues defender Kade Simpson described Walsh as a “freak” after the win.

“For a guy who’s 18, he’s just really professional, a really hard trainer,” Simpson said.

“He does that on the track so I’m not surprised he’s doing it out here on the bigger stage. He’s a freak.”

Fox Footy commentator Nick Riewoldt was mightily impressed with Walsh’s footy smarts.

“It’s exactly what you’d expect to see from a guy that’s been as highly touted as he has,” Riewoldt said.

“He’s really impressed them down at Carlton with the way he’s trained and the way he’s prepared.

Wow.

“Every time he’s got the footy, he looks like he’s been playing at the level for 10 years. He looks composed, he’s used it well and he’s a really exciting addition to the Carlton footy club.”

AFL great Terry Wallace told SEN Radio that Walsh reminds him of Cats superstar Joel Selwood.

“They knew internally what they had, but when you see him play at this level you just go, ‘Wow, we’ve got one here,’” Wallace said.

“There’s very few first-year players and Joel Selwood comes to mind, who can do what Walsh is doing in this game.”

Been watching Sam Walsh for 24 minutes.

The kid’s a jet. What a joy he’ll be to watch this season.

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) February 28, 2019

That will do. Walsh just never wants to go sideways. Always takes ground. The Blues coaches love Newman. SPS has some spark back, Setterfield has it, they have manufactured some crumbers, Gibbons (3 goals a Round 1 lock). Only JLT but good signs for CFC pic.twitter.com/n2OCYazUdV

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) February 28, 2019

Need to find a betting agency offering a ‘Sam Walsh to win a Brownlow during his career’ market. Easy money.

— Ryan Daniels (@FootyRhino) February 28, 2019

Looking for AFL Grand Final tickets already. @karlkaldawi08 #BeNavy

— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) February 28, 2019

Walsh finished 28 touches and was among the Blues’ best players behind Patrick Cripps.

The Blues led by 34 points early in the final term at Ikon Park but had to withstand a late flurry by the Bombers — who cut the margin to three points — before finishing nine points clear.

Putting aside the scoreline, there was plenty to like for both sets of fans in the crowd of 8,215 that braved the heat on Thursday evening. For the Blues, Walsh oozed class in a 28-possession performance and mature recruit Michael Gibbons kicked goals with his first two touches to finish with three.

Star skipper Cripps led the way with 33 touches and two goals, with former captain Marc Murphy (22 disposals) moving freely after copping a knock to a knee in a scratch match against Hawthorn.

Only seems like yesterday.

Recruits Will Setterfield (GWS) and Nic Newman (Sydney) also impressed, while David Cunningham continued his encouraging pre-season form with three goals. Charlie Curnow landed awkwardly in a marking contest in the second quarter and was rested in what the club said was a precautionary move only.

The Bombers’ No. 1 draft pick Andy McGrath was instrumental, lifting his side back into the contest with prime movers Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett rested in the second half.

McGrath finished with 25 possessions and two goals, with Jake Stringer and Mitch Brown booting three goals apiece.

Perhaps most heartening for Essendon fans was the sight of a fit Joe Daniher playing his first match since round seven last season when he succumbed to osteitis pubis.

Daniher kicked the first goal of the game and will be better for the run, while fellow tall Zac Clarke impressed with 37 hitouts and a goal in his return to AFL football.

Star recruit Dylan Shield limped from the field in the last quarter and was rested with a suspected corked thigh.

The AFL will be pretty chuffed with the hitout too.

The new rules implemented this season appeared to give players more space and helped the Bombers come roaring back into the contest with five unanswered goals in the last quarter.

— with AAP