Andrew Walker (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Tex" Walker is a professional Australian rules football
er playing with Carlton Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
.
He played his early career in country football and represented Bendigo
in the TAC Cup
before catching the eye of talent scouts.
He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School
in Melbourne, Victoria, and graduated in 2004.
. Walker was Carlton's only high draft pick in either 2002
or 2003, as the club was stripped of its early selections in those drafts due to salary cap breaches
. He was given Carlton champion Stephen Silvagni
's guernsey number 1 after its two-year retirement. Andrew was a bottom-aged player in the 2003 Draft, and studied Year 12 – Victorian Certificate of Education
– during his debut year, at Caulfield Grammar School
.
Walker made his debut in Round 5, 2004 in Carlton
's win over West Coast
at Optus Oval, a performance that was considered one of the greatest debuts ever by a young player. In that game, he amassed 26 disposals, assisted three goals, and flew for what may well have been Mark of the Year
had he held on to the ball. Walker earned a Rising Star Award
nomination for that performance.
For the rest of 2004 and 2005, Andrew struggled to reproduce the stunning form he displayed on debut, and it wasn't until 2006 that he started to play consistent football for the Carlton senior side. In 2006, Andrew had a number of very successful games as a tagger (often tagging the opposition's premier midfielder), and also provided much run off half back. Andrew's good 2006 was acknowledged by the club with a Top 10 placing in the club's Best and Fairest Award.
In 2007 Walker continued to develop as a footballer, and moved into Carlton's midfield where he uses his pace and ball carrying ability. In mid 2007, he signed a deal tying him to the club until 2009.
Walker's 2008 and 2009 seasons were severely limited by a shoulder injury. He initially injured the shoulder in 2008 pre-season training; he recuperated without surgery to play in Carlton's pre-season games, but injured it again in the Blues' final practice match, requiring a reconstruction which prevented him from playing until Round 16. He injured it again at the start of 2009, requiring another operation and preventing him from playing until Round 18. Walker managed only thirteen matches for the two seasons.
He was one of a number of Carlton players involved in off field incidents following Carlton players' 2009 Christmas party to be fined and suspended from pre-season training for a month. They were sent to a boxing gym and underwent a strenuous training program. This in fact had a positive effect and they applied themselves so well that they achieved best ever levels of fitness and convinced the club they had the right attitude.
After finally returning to regular game-time in 2010, Walker was struggling to hold his place in the team as a midfielder/utility on form. Carlton sought interest from other clubs during the 2010 trade week
, but ultimately no trade was negotiated and he remained at Carlton.
In 2011, he re-established himself as a key member of Carlton's senior team, in a new position as a key forward. He played all 24 games for the season, and kicked 56 goals to be the club's leading goalkicker, and finished sixth in the best and fairest. Additionally, in Round 18 against Essendon, Walker took a huge specky over Essendon player Jake Carlisle
, which was considered by many football observers, including The Age
s Rohan Connolly, and both match-day coaches, Brett Ratten
and James Hird
, to be one of the greatest marks of all-time – although ultimately it did not win the season's Mark of the Year
award.
Walker's nickame is Tex, a reference to television program Walker, Texas Ranger
. 3AW
commentator Rex Hunt
also uses the nickname 1AW, in reference to his guernsey number and initials.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er playing with Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early life
Andrew has Indigenous Australian heritage and his tribal ancestry can be traced to the Yorta YortaYorta Yorta people
The Yorta Yorta people are the Indigenous Australians who traditionally lived around the junction of the Goulburn and Murray Rivers in present-day northeast Victoria....
.
He played his early career in country football and represented Bendigo
Bendigo Pioneers
The Bendigo Pioneers are an Australian rules football team in a Victorian under 18s league the TAC Cup.Bendigo Pioneers is an Australian rules football team playing in TAC Cup since 1993 based in Bendigo. The team trains at Wade St Oval, Golden Square. The team is coached by Mark Ellis...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
before catching the eye of talent scouts.
He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
in Melbourne, Victoria, and graduated in 2004.
AFL career
Walker was taken with Carlton's priority draft pick, the second pick overall, in the 2003 National Draft2003 AFL Draft
The 2003 AFL Draft was the 2003 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
. Walker was Carlton's only high draft pick in either 2002
2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
or 2003, as the club was stripped of its early selections in those drafts due to salary cap breaches
Carlton Football Club salary cap breach
The Carlton Football Club salary cap breach was the breach of the Australian Football League's salary cap by the Carlton Football Club, primarily in the late 1990s and early 2000s...
. He was given Carlton champion Stephen Silvagni
Stephen Silvagni
Stephen Silvagni is a former Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club.During his long VFL/AFL career, from his debut in 1985, until his retirement in 2001, he gained the reputation as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game and was named as full-back in the AFL Team...
's guernsey number 1 after its two-year retirement. Andrew was a bottom-aged player in the 2003 Draft, and studied Year 12 – Victorian Certificate of Education
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
– during his debut year, at Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
.
Walker made his debut in Round 5, 2004 in Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
's win over West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
at Optus Oval, a performance that was considered one of the greatest debuts ever by a young player. In that game, he amassed 26 disposals, assisted three goals, and flew for what may well have been Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
had he held on to the ball. Walker earned a Rising Star Award
AFL Rising Star award
The NAB AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a standout young player in the Australian Football League. Since 2007 the winner has been presented with the Ron Evans Medal and was first awarded in 1993...
nomination for that performance.
For the rest of 2004 and 2005, Andrew struggled to reproduce the stunning form he displayed on debut, and it wasn't until 2006 that he started to play consistent football for the Carlton senior side. In 2006, Andrew had a number of very successful games as a tagger (often tagging the opposition's premier midfielder), and also provided much run off half back. Andrew's good 2006 was acknowledged by the club with a Top 10 placing in the club's Best and Fairest Award.
In 2007 Walker continued to develop as a footballer, and moved into Carlton's midfield where he uses his pace and ball carrying ability. In mid 2007, he signed a deal tying him to the club until 2009.
Walker's 2008 and 2009 seasons were severely limited by a shoulder injury. He initially injured the shoulder in 2008 pre-season training; he recuperated without surgery to play in Carlton's pre-season games, but injured it again in the Blues' final practice match, requiring a reconstruction which prevented him from playing until Round 16. He injured it again at the start of 2009, requiring another operation and preventing him from playing until Round 18. Walker managed only thirteen matches for the two seasons.
He was one of a number of Carlton players involved in off field incidents following Carlton players' 2009 Christmas party to be fined and suspended from pre-season training for a month. They were sent to a boxing gym and underwent a strenuous training program. This in fact had a positive effect and they applied themselves so well that they achieved best ever levels of fitness and convinced the club they had the right attitude.
After finally returning to regular game-time in 2010, Walker was struggling to hold his place in the team as a midfielder/utility on form. Carlton sought interest from other clubs during the 2010 trade week
2010 AFL Draft
The 2010 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2010/11 Australian Football League off-season. These are the Trade Week; held between , the National Draft; held on the , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .This is the first national draft to feature the...
, but ultimately no trade was negotiated and he remained at Carlton.
In 2011, he re-established himself as a key member of Carlton's senior team, in a new position as a key forward. He played all 24 games for the season, and kicked 56 goals to be the club's leading goalkicker, and finished sixth in the best and fairest. Additionally, in Round 18 against Essendon, Walker took a huge specky over Essendon player Jake Carlisle
Jake Carlisle
Jake Carlisle is an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League .Carlisle was selected by Essendon with the twenty-fourth pick in the 2009 AFL Draft. Like fellow draftee Jake Melksham, Carlisle is a local to the Essendon area...
, which was considered by many football observers, including The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
s Rohan Connolly, and both match-day coaches, Brett Ratten
Brett Ratten
Brett "Ratts" Ratten is a former Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League....
and James Hird
James Hird
James Hird is a former professional Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League....
, to be one of the greatest marks of all-time – although ultimately it did not win the season's Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
award.
Personal life
Outside of football, Walker is currently in the band, "Number One Draft Picks' and plays the drum like his father. He has a son named Cody Jay (born in January 2008) with partner Kylie.Walker's nickame is Tex, a reference to television program Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American television action crime drama series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, and starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full...
. 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
commentator Rex Hunt
Rex Hunt
Rex James Hunt is an Australian television and radio personality, and a former Australian rules football player. He is an Australian rules football commentator, currently on the 1116 SEN radio station with son in law Lee Raynor conducting a program called Off The Hook. He is better known around...
also uses the nickname 1AW, in reference to his guernsey number and initials.