Lara misses out on former AFL player Josh Walker after choosing Balwyn in EFL

Lara co-coach Shayne Stone has revealed the conversations he had with former AFL utility Josh Walker, and how close the club was to luring him home.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 02: Josh Walker of the Kangaroos warms up during the 2022 AFL Round 03 match between the Brisbane Lions and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at The Gabba on April 02, 2022 In Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

LARA co-coach Shayne Stone has revealed the Cats had “pretty advanced” conversations with former AFL player Josh Walker in an attempt to lure him back to his junior club.

The key position utility played 139 games across Geelong, Brisbane and North Melbourne in an 11-year professional career before retiring at the end of 2022 when he was not offered a contract at the Kangaroos.

Walker signed with Balwyn in the Eastern Football League, with the Tigers also landing former AFL star Levi Greenwood after losing in the elimination final against Doncaster East.

Stone said there was an allure to returning home that appealed to Walker.

“We were talking to him but it was probably a bit of hard work for us because he’s pretty settled up in Melbourne,” he said.

Josh Walker has chosen Balwyn as his next football club. Robert Cianflone

“He came down and trained with us, he’s got that pull back down to Lara and his old man played in a premiership here.

“Josh grew up around the club and he loves it here, I’m sure he’d love to come back and play here once he’s done his thing in Melbourne.

“There’s still an opportunity for him to come back and play here in the next few years, we’d love to have him.”

Walker played primarily as a key defender for North Melbourne after stints in the forward line for Geelong and Brisbane, finishing his career with 75 goals from 139 games.

He played 16 games in 2022, averaging 11.1 disposals, 4.9 marks and a tackle a game, but the Kangaroos have signed Griffin Logue from Fremantle in the off-season to play at full-back.

Josh Walker and Devon Smith are great friends from junior days at Lara. The pair played in a GCA T20 match together in 2014. Picture: Mitch Bear

If Lara had been successful in its pursuit of Walker, he would have been the club’s second 2022 AFL-listed player to join the ranks after former-Giant-and-Bomber Devon Smith joined the Cats as a co-coach.

Stone said it would have been a perfect off-season if Lara had landed Walker alongside Smith.

“We had pretty advanced talks with him, I think the fairytale of coming back was alluring him, plus the opportunity to play with Dev (Smith), but where he’s at in his life and how settled he is, it made more sense to do what he’s doing,” he said.

“It would’ve been really nice (to sign two former AFL players), it would’ve really filled the stocking, especially with a guy of Josh’s size because he would’ve really worked well with Dev, they would’ve complemented each other perfectly.

“But we’ve only managed to get the one, and we’re really happy with just one in Dev.”

Originally published as Lara misses out on former AFL player Josh Walker after choosing Balwyn in EFL