Carlton’s initial frustration over having to pay additional draft capital for the promising father-son selection Cody Walker has been somewhat eased by his impressive VFL debut on Saturday afternoon. The 18-year-old showed great promise, recording 25 possessions in a game that saw the Blues secure a five-point victory over St Kilda at Ikon Park.
Walker played in the midfield and across half-forward, demonstrating composure under pressure and contributing significantly to the team’s success. His performance highlighted his poise, courage, clean hands, and elite kicking skills, all of which bode well for his future with the club.
Despite the positive start, the Blues were left upset earlier in the week after the AFL announced sweeping changes to the draft rules this year. According to Greg Swann, head of football performance at the AFL, these changes aim to ensure clubs pay a “fairer” price for high-end father-son and academy talent.
Andrew Walker, the proud father of Cody and a former 202-game Blue, praised his son’s first appearance in the navy blue jersey—No.76—but was critical of the rule changes, calling them “ridiculous.” He emphasized the unique value of the father-son rule, stating it has been a part of the game for over 150 years and is more about rewarding loyalty and commitment than ensuring fairness.
“It’s got a bit of nostalgia and a bit of sexiness to it,” he said. “It’s not necessarily about evening up sides and making it fair. It’s something that’s been around for a long time.”
The AFL rejected requests from Carlton, Port Adelaide, and Essendon to delay the rule changes until after Tasmania enters the competition in 2028. Under the previous system, clubs like Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, and the Brisbane Lions could stockpile late picks to match early bids for top talents such as Nick Daicos, Sam Darcy, and Will Ashcroft.
However, under the new rules, Carlton will now need 2700 points to match a bid for Walker. This would require using their pick three and potentially another selection as low as 27. Blues president Robert Priestly argued that the rule changes disadvantage certain clubs more than others and should have had a “longer runway” before implementation.
Cody has been training with Carlton for the past six months and is set to follow in the footsteps of top-end talents Jagga Smith and Harry Dean. As a product of the Bendigo Pioneers, he is expected to play five VFL games this year, including one next week.
“I think it was really nice to see him out there with the jumper on,” Andrew said. “Being able to spend six months at the football club in the year out from getting drafted, and being able to put that sort of weight on, he certainly didn’t look out of place. So really proud of him.”
Andrew made his debut for Carlton at the same ground in 2004 after being taken at pick two in the 2003 draft. He collected 26 possessions on debut—just one more than his son—before retiring in 2016 and returning to coach Echuca in the Goulburn Valley league.
Cody was presented with his No.76 jumper by Carlton’s head of development, Jordan Russell, who shared a locker with his father during their playing careers. The younger Walker wore No.1, just like his father did.
Carlton VFL coach Damien Truslove noted similarities between Cody and other young talents like Jagga Smith and Harry Dean. He described Cody as tough, highlighting his ability to take big hits and bounce back quickly. Truslove also mentioned that managing the minutes and training load of these players is crucial to ensuring their longevity.
“We’ve got to manage their minutes, we’ve got to manage their load at training and make sure we get longevity out of them. It’s exciting to have the three of them in.”
Meanwhile, forgotten midfielder George Hewett was named best afield in the VFL clash against St Kilda. He dominated the opening quarter before being moved forward—a position change that could help accelerate his return to the AFL level.
“He spent a bit of time at Sydney playing as a half forward, and it gives him another string to his bow, really,” Truslove said. “We think he can offer a bit forward. He’s got good hands. He’s a good finisher. So we want him a bit more of a look at that.”
