Named at CHB, and played on Gumby last week

Seems the club have decided to try and use Walker as a key defender. Interesting. He is 190cm, but is fast and has a good leap, so I guess the club figure if he can do OK at the pure-defensive side of things, he can then use his pace to hurt his taller/slower opponent at ground level

I think last weekend though matching him up against the extremely tall Gumbleton was not the best move. He was just too tall.

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Someone has to replace Bower.

Obviously not Thornton

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Thornton had a go at it in round 2.

I'm starting to get a little worried about Walker. His game last week was ordinary (but to be fair so was nearly everyone else's), and before the start of the season, I had this year picked as his 'make or break'. He needs to hit some good, consistent form after a string of injuries and a long time on the sidelines. This is his best chance in a while to get into regular, uninterrupted form so he needs to take this opportunity

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"GIBBS."

I think part of the problem is Ratten has obviously told the players to hold things up a bit more (he said so much in the press) and this sort of goes against the natural instincts of Walks to run and run and run.

I also think Russell looks far more menacing when he puts on the after burners. In fact, I would go so far as to say I think Russell and the team at large look awesome when he decides to play very attacking, aggressive footy and use his run. How good and uplifting was his goal on the run in the final last year !

I'm not sure Ratten is using his stock the right way. Russell and Walker should be instructed to run hard off HB like Malceski and Shaw and Kennely at Sydney, but instead they play very defensively.

Ratten needs to play to his strengths more.

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

I just get how Walker is even playing in the seniors this week

my only issue with Walker is the amount of times he runs, carries and bombs 50m mongrels. If the coaches are telling him to do this, it's stupid, if he's doing it instinctively then he's not following team orders.

He's not a good kick on the run and he never will be, but he brings a lot of other things to the table. I think he can play well enough in most positions, but I'd prefer he was used like Daniel Cross. Use his physicallity, his endurance and his reading of the play in the middle of the ground, but keep a 2:1 handball to kick ratio. If he played a little more like Scott West / Daniel Cross and a little less like Josh Drummond, we'd have a useful player on our hands.

A couple of things we need to remember with Walker. He has played bugger all footy for the past few years because of injury. Prior to that he was a talented 1st round draft pick that hadn't really established himself yet. He also had a debut game that set his expectations ridiculously high.

He has only played 90 games in 6 years in one the worst sides going around. This can have the effect of cutting corners and getting away with things you may not in better sides.

Go watch Walker at training he is fantastic. Very fit, athletic and doesn't stop and in time trials even beats Judd.

IMO he has been moved around and because of his running capability has been labelled as purely a midfielder. The issue I see is that he is not a natural 'ball magnet' and has trouble finding the ball in open play and thus is frustrated and runs harder.

I like the idea of him playing CHB for several reasons:

1. He is allowed to settle down in one role and show his worth.
2. He will be lead to the ball.
3. He will understand that his main role is to beat his opponent. Getting the ball will then naturally develop after.
4. Even though his disposal has been poor having the opportunity to run straight I believe given time and confidence it will settle.
5. He has a fantastic vertical leap and can match most fwds. Match ups will be the key for him. I see him playing well on Gumbleton, Staker, Reiwoldt, Hentschell, Murphy, Anthony, Bate, Kennedy etc. IMO he has atleast broken even on the last two games this year.
6. He will add to the flexibility and run of our defence. He along with Bower and Jamo surrounded by runners make a more dangerous and attacking defence. Guys like these and Armfield, AJ, Russell really have the ability to run and carry and break lines.
7. He is still young and has time and gives his all.

For what's its worth I think he is worth persisting with and to be fair he was one of our only real triers last week, I just hope that Ratts and Co persist with him in the role as they did with Russell. Amazing what can happen when given a chance!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I agree. Similar to the way Parkin brought Kouta back from the dead in 98' 99'.

it seems like Ratts is giving Walker every chance to prove himself, much in the same way he did to Jordan Russell. lets hope it works out, because a confident fit and firing 1AW is just what our team needs.

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i don't wanna spend my life explaining myself. Either you get it, or you don't- Frank Zappa

Walker hasn't played a good game for almost 2 years.

Fair point about Kouta @ CHB.


Kouta just seemed to have a sense of belonging when he was shiffted to CHB. Like he knew what job he had to do.

Hopefully Walks can do the same.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Thornton's Herald Sun points were very high in the first half of last year, but that seems a long time ago

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Kouta was bigger, stronger and heavier then walker will ever be

I don't think anybody is suggesting that moving Walker to CHB is gonna turn him into Kouta.

I think we're more saying that he could relish the move to a position such as CHB and it could bring him into the form that we (and andrew himself) are looking for.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

Walker has not played many games in 2 years.

He has had a full preseason and has no excuses. He is in the prime of his career. His form to start this season has been appalling. Should have been traded years ago.

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"The Wigg's big in 08!" - Chris Judd

Gumbleton had 10 disposals, 6 marks and kicked 1 goal.

Did his height worry Walker that much?

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