Carlton young gun Sam Walsh to miss start of AFL season with injury

Carlton has suffered a huge blow just weeks out from the AFL season after gun midfielder Sam Walsh suffered a nasty injury.

Sam Walsh will miss the start of the AFL season with injury. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Carlton young gun Sam Walsh is set to miss the start of the AFL season after being sidelined with an ankle injury.

The midfielder is expected to sit out at least the first month of the season after suffering a syndesmosis injury in his ankle.

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Walsh suffered the injury after being tackled during match simulation and after consulting specialist advice, it was confirmed he would have to undergo surgery.

“It is obviously disappointing news for Sam,” Carlton head of football Brad Lloyd said.

“He’d completed every session so far over the summer but unfortunately these incidents are a part of footy. Sam will throw everything into his rehab and his teammates will continue to do the same for the start of the season.

“Sam leads from the front with his professionalism and commitment every day he walks through the doors of the footy club and there’s no doubt he will take the same approach to his recovery over the coming weeks.

“We’ll continue to assess Sam throughout his recovery, at this stage we expect him to be available to play again after the first month of the season has been complete.

Sam Walsh will miss the first month of the AFL season with an ankle injury. Photo: Michael Klein

“There has been some real competition for spots in that midfield group over the summer so we look forward to seeing who puts their hand up and takes their chance over the coming weeks.”

The injury is a huge blow to the Blues, who are looking to rise up the ladder in 2022 and make the finals for the first time since 2013.

Walsh has quickly emerged as arguably Carlton’s best and most important player after being taken with the No. 1 draft pick in 2018.

He has played 61 consecutive games to start his career, which has seen him claim the AFL’s Rising Star award in his first season as well as All Australian honours during a breakout season last year.

Walsh won Carlton’s best and fairest and finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal in 2021, polling an astonishing 30 votes.

Walsh’s injury is a huge blow for the Blues. Photo: Michael Klein

The Blues are entering a fresh era in 2022 under new coach Michael Voss, who replaced David Teague.

Walsh had been elevated to vice-captain in Carlton’s leadership group in a sign of his rapid development in the AFL.

Last week the 21-year-old signed a four-year contract extension, which will see him remain in navy blue until at least the end of the 2026 season.

Carlton will take part in two pre-season games against St Kilda (24 February) and Melbourne (3 March) before the season proper kicks off on 17 March.