Andrew Walker (footballer)

Template:Infobox AFL player 2 Andrew "Tex" Walker (born 18 May 1986) is a professional Australian Rules Footballer playing with Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Andrew has Indigenous Australian heritage and his tribal ancestry can be traced to the Yorta Yorta.

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.

AFL career

Walker was taken with Carlton's priority draft pick, the second pick overall, in the 2003 National Draft. Being a high draft pick, there are large expectations on Andrew, and accordingly he was given Carlton champion Stephen Silvagni's guernsey number 1 after its two-year retirement.

Andrew 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 rightfully earned a Rising Star Award nomination for that performance. 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.

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 2007–2008 off-season was affected by a shoulder injury. 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 of the 2008 season. Upon his comeback he has been successfully used across the Half-Forward line.

At the start of 2009 Walker again injured his troublesome shoulder which required a different operation to make it stronger but less mobile. He returned to the team in Round 18, and played the remainder of the season.

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.

By the end of 2010, Walker was struggling to hold his place in the team as a midfielder/utility, and Carlton sought interest from other clubs during the 2010 trade week; 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.

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. 3AW commentator Rex Hunt also uses the nickname 1AW, in reference to his guernsey number and initials.

External links

• Andrew Walker's profile on the official website of the Carlton Football Club
• Andrew Walker's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Andrew Walker Profile in Blueseum