You say Aker had 18disposals,7tackles,3marks,and a goal.I reckon that is a great night's work from a half forward flank.And with someone in your face and breathing down your neck.
Actually reckon those stats make Walker's game worse than i thought.
I tell ya what JC,the day Walker produces stats like that from a HFF with a heavy tag,i along with every other Blues supporter will be ecstatic.
Sorry JC,but on the stats you have presented,thats a flogging in my book.

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All my dangerous friends

To have played 33 games in 2 seasons playing your 1st game as a 17 y/o must mean you are doing something right.

Yeah but Mickstar you need to put it in context.

In and around that game Aker was in some of the best form of his career. Not sure if you saw this match but if you did you'll agree that whilst far from playing poorly as such, Aker's contribution on the night in terms of his impact on the result was pretty much pedestrian. In other words, Walker kept him pretty quiet, it was just that the rest of the Brisbane side was far too good in the finish for their Carlton counterparts. Even Aker himself after the match genuinely commended Walker for his performance on him. Placed in its proper context it was a great effort by Walker to restrict a previously and subsequently ramapaging Akermanis.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

It was the only game in a 10 game streak where Aker got less than 20 possessions. The game after playing on Walker, Aker picked up 35 possessions against Geelong.

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And kicked 5 goals. And did it again a week later.

Aka didn't have a massive impact on the game. Had a decent last quarter though but for the first three quarters Walker did a superb job... Not only did he do a good negating job but also managed to get his fair share of the pill. Didn't stop trying all night which was good to see.

IIRC Aka was standing just inside his attacking 50. Walker and Camporeale were by his side. Campo pushed him in the face or did something ridiclious and gave away a free kick... Walker didn't try any of that crap for the whole night. He just worked his ass off... Just thought I'd add that.

It's a pity Walker ran off him from half back to kick a 50 metre goal a la McKay in a game which has escaped me.

I watched the Adelaide game only the other night to see him take on three Crows all on his own in one play.A great team effort and leadership from senior players to let the 19 year old take them on all by himself.

Andrew also exploded down the wing in one burst and for someone who's typecast as an athlete playing the game.I was perplexed why he opted to kick it 50 metres on his left when he had plenty of time.

He will be a gun and needs better teammates than the likes of Camporeale, who put a kid under the pump with the worst pass you'll ever see from a veteran.

Crushed!Comes home ,borrows the Toyota,goes 4Wd,does'nt wash the vehicle,disappointed,you bet!

Good to see you can have a laugh about all this DOA.

A good way to judge how 'disappointing' SODOA has been is to look at the 2003 draft & assess the under 18 draftees who have shown enough to suggest they will have careers to the level we could expect of SODOA. Just for fun, here's the whole draft,

2003

1Western Bulldogs ADAM COONEY (WEST ADELAIDE) 30/09/1985 186 81
2Carlton ANDREW WALKER (BENDIGO PIONEERS) 18/05/1985 189.2 83
3Melbourne COLIN SYLVIA (BENDIGO PIONEERS) 8/11/1985 184.2 84.8
4Western Bulldogs FARREN RAY (PEEL THUNDER) 23/03/1986 183.1 74.5
5Melbourne BROCK MCLEAN (CALDER CANNONS) 11/03/1986 183.4 86
6Essendon KEPLER BRADLEY (WEST PERTH) 13/11/1985 197.9 86.3
7Geelong KANE TENACE (MURRAY BUSHRANGERS) 4/07/1985 182.1 78
8St Kilda RAPHAEL CLARKE (ST MARYS (NT)) 24/09/1985 187.9 77.1
9Kangaroos DAVID TROTTER (CALDER CANNONS) 4/03/1986 185 79.8
10 Fremantle RYLEY DUNN (MURRAY BUSHRANGERS) 7/10/1985 183.8 82.6

11 West Coast BEAU WATERS (WEST ADELAIDE) 30/03/1986 187.4 84.8
12 Fremantle RYAN MURPHY (GIPPSLAND POWER) 24/05/1985 192.3 80.9
13 Essendon* BRENT STANTON (NORTHERN KNIGHTS) 1/05/1986 180.7 77.6
14 Adelaide FERGUS WATTS (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS) 21/09/1985 196.6 86.3
15 Port Adelaide TROY CHAPLIN (NORTH BALLARAT REBELS) 23/02/1986 193.6 89
16 Sydney JOSHUA WILLOUGHBY (GLENELG (SANFL)) 11/01/1986 175.6 70
17 Collingwood WILLIAM MORRISON (TASMANIA) 6/01/1986 192.2 97.4
18 Brisbane Lions LLANE SPAANDERMAN (EAST PERTH) 10/02/1986 198.3 99.6
19 Fremantle DAVID MUNDY (MURRAY BUSHRANGERS) 20/07/1985 189.3 81.8
20 West Coast SAMUEL BUTLER (CENTRAL DISTRICTS) 14/01/1986 185 75

21 Richmond ALEX GILMORE (TASSIE MARINERS) 29/06/1986
22 Geelong CAMERON THURLEY (TASMANIA) 26/11/1981 181.7 75
23 Brisbane Lions MATTHEW MOODY (SOUTH FREMANTLE (WAFL)) 23/09/1985 187 81.8
24 Kangaroos CHAD JONES (CLAREMONT (WAFL)) 15/06/1984 195.9 80.8
25 Hawthorn HARRY MILLER (PORT ADELAIDE (SANFL)) 11/06/1985 174.2 77.5
26 West Coast DANIEL MCCONNELL (EASTERN RANGES) 21/06/1986 189.7 84
27 Fremantle ADAM CAMPBELL (NORTH BALLARAT REBELS) 25/01/1985 191.9 78.2
28 Essendon* JAY NASH (CENTRAL DISTRICTS) 21/12/1985 185 75
29 Sydney TIM SCHMIDT (WEST ADELAIDE) 14/03/1986 179.2 77.6
30 Port Adelaide BRADLEY SYMES (CENTRAL DISTRICTS) 7/03/1985 185 75

31 Adelaide JOSHUA KRUEGER (GLENELG (SANFL)) 27/10/1983 195.3 91.1
32 Collingwood BRAYDEN SHAW (NORTHERN KNIGHTS) 16/09/1985
33 Brisbane Lions JED ADCOCK (NORTH BALLARAT REBELS) 15/11/1985 184 81.8
34 Port Adelaide LUKE PEEL (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS) 26/06/1986 187.1 83.7
35 Collingwood BRENT HALL (SOUTH FREMANTLE (WAFL)) 7/01/1986 198.2 94.7
36 Melbourne CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON (EAST FREMANTLE (WAFL)) 25/01/1986
37 Richmond TOM ROACH (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) 2/09/1985
38 Geelong MARK BLAKE (GEELONG FALCONS) 9/09/1985 198 94
39 Port Adelaide ROBERT FORSTER-KNIGHT (Essendon*) 6/04/1982
40 Kangaroos EDWARD SANSBURY (CENTRAL DISTRICTS) 26/11/1983 179 78

41 Hawthorn ZAC DAWSON (CALDER CANNONS) 22/02/1986 195.4 78.8
42 Geelong MATTHEW SPENCER (SWAN DISTRICTS (WAFL)) 17/01/1985 194.6 89.2
43 Fremantle BRETT PEAKE (EAST FREMANTLE (WAFL)) 5/07/1983 183 80
44 Essendon* RICKY DYSON (NORTHERN KNIGHTS) 28/09/1985 182.6 71.2
45 Sydney AMON BUCHANAN (SYDNEY) 10/10/1982
46 Port Adelaide MICHAEL PETTIGREW (WEST PERTH (WAFL)) 16/03/1985 192.7 80
47 Sydney ANDREW ERICKSEN (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS) 17/07/1985 205.2 89.2
48 Collingwood HEATH SHAW (NORTHERN KNIGHTS) 27/11/1985
49 Brisbane Lions THOMAS LOGAN (WARATAH) 2/07/1985 183.2 72.9
50 Western Bulldogs ISZAC THOMPSON (WOODVILLE WEST TORRENS) 24/01/1986 184 72



51 Hawthorn MATTHEW BALL (HAWTHORN ROOKIE) 21/02/1982
52 Melbourne PASS
53 Richmond DANIEL JACKSON (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) 24/04/1986 185.6 87
54 Geelong PASS
55 St Kilda SAMUEL FISHER (WEST ADELAIDE) 10/07/1982 193 80
56 Kangaroos BRENT LE CRAS (WEST PERTH (WAFL)) 12/10/1981
57 Carlton RICKY MOTT (FREMANTLE ROOKIE) 21/04/1981
58 Adelaide BENJAMIN HUDSON (WERRIBEE) 24/02/1979
59 Sydney MATTHEW DAVIS (NORTH ADELAIDE) 23/06/1986
60 Collingwood JULIAN ROWE (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) 25/05/1985 187 72.5

61 Brisbane Lions MICHAEL RISCHITELLI (WESTERN JETS) 8/01/1986 181 70
62 Western Bulldogs PASS
63 Carlton GLEN BOWYER (HAWTHORN) 28/12/1979
64 Richmond SHANE MORRISON (BRISBANE LIONS) 10/01/1981
65 St Kilda CRAIG CALLAGHAN (ST KILDA) 9/03/1976
66 Kangaroos PASS
67 Adelaide
68 Brisbane Lions
69 Carlton JORDON BANNISTER (Essendon*) 31/10/1982
70 Richmond BRENT HARTIGAN (CALDER CANNONS) 7/04/1985 177 68
71 St Kilda PASS
72 Carlton ADRIAN DELUCA (PORT MELBOURNE) 15/05/1982
73 Richmond SHANE TUCK (WEST ADELAIDE) 24/12/1981
74 St Kilda PASS
75 Carlton STEPHEN KENNA (BOX HILL HAWKS) 8/10/1981
76 Richmond ANDREW RAINES (SOUTHPORT) 8/03/1986
77 St Kilda
78 Carlton
79 Richmond SIMON FLETCHER (CARLTON) 17/08/1978
80 Carlton
81 Richmond KYLE ARCHIBALD (BELCONNEN) 23/02/1986 190 86

For mine, the only U18 draftees who have shown the level of career we would expect Walker to have are -

Pick 5 Brock Mclean
Pick 13 Brett Stanton
Pick 19 David Mundy

* I'm not counting Cooney, because we di9dn't get the chance to draft him.

U18 draftees who I would say have shown some special talent while being consistent in their performances

Pick 6 Kepler Bradley
Pick 11 Beau Waters
Pick 33 Jed Adcock
Pick 55 Samuel Fisher

There's also quite a few decent players who've showed glimpses and their supporters rate quite highly. Meanwhile Walker has played 33 of 44 games in a weak team who have poor support in the midfield. The big difference is that we, and all opposition supporters have had the opportunity to see his best skills, his skill errors & supposed levels of application which can often be mistaken for not being able to match it with men. Considering all this, at his age, I'm glad he hasn't been thrown to the wolves completely. This wasn't my view before I looked at the U18 draftees of 2003 & made the comparisons.

Overall, in a realistic view, he's not at all disappointing, he just has to take the next step, like most of our young blokes have to gradually do over the next 2 to 3 years.

What about Amon Buchanan he was in that draft, i think he has outperformed walker.

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I'm Rick James B***ch, go and have sex with Charlie Murphy

What about Amon Buchanan he was in that draft, i think he has outperformed walker and will have a good career i say.

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I'm Rick James B***ch, go and have sex with Charlie Murphy

Buchanan was originally in Livo's draft, but suffered years & years of injury before being delisted, and then redrafted by the Swans.

To compare a mature age retread who finally had a good year to a young 19 year old drafted at #2 is unbalanced.

My favourite post in the whole thread. Well done DOA!

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In Bolts we trust.......Until we don't anymore

I was going to post on the weekend (for once) about how piss weak this thread is but thought why even pay it attention.

well said DOA.

What a crock this board can be sometimes.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Maybe you should realise, to make a far comparison, I said I'm looking at U18 draftees, in 2003 the Swans re-drafted Buchanan as a 21 year old. Tuck was also drafted as an older player.

Still stand by it and if you read what I wrote Gerry you would agree with me . The guys nominated back on the 28 th are tuff uncomprimising footballers who made Pagan what he is with the exception of Carey and Mckernan( Who hated Pagan) the rest of the side were tough footballers not talented -not skillful -tough. Pagan likes players like this, ones that he can mould to suit he game plan , ones that cant think for themselves. Walker is not that type of player he is a Talent - Pagan cant handle this type of footballer he wants to turn him into a tough tagging type player.He even said it himself he has difficulting coping with Fev. Pagan needs players who cant think for themselves he needs players that will do what he says and nothing else. This is why he pisses off so many who are under him . His 2 flags that he won were against weak opposition thats how is gameplan held out in previous years against tougher opposition he didn't make it past the preliminary we was out thought.

Now I will tell you why Pagan will never be successful again - It is because when you go to the draft table you are not going to find and Archer - Stevens - King - Martyn or any other player like that because they are not the type of players that make it through the draft camps . so his gameplan his style of play and his coaching methods are not suited to the mordern day footballer like Walker

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

now I've gone and stumbled into comedy central

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

After all, 1999 was eons ago....

I'm happy that this conversation has moved on from the original premise to something about Pagan and his coaching. I'm sick to death of posters labelling first, second or even third year players as disappointing, as weak, and some seeking to say that they're no good.

Best case in point against any of this sort of logic is one K.Simpson. If anyone was going to struggle it was Doughnut Boy who couldn't touch it in his first 3 games. Too skinny. Looked funny. Look at his breakout 2005 - a key player in only his third year. Zip, dash and a lovely kick, plus strong desire for the aggot. He has a year on Walker, give the 19 year old some time please guys.

good grief! what a terrible thread.

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Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

I'll say! Are those even the right details next to each draftee in that list? Puts Walker as one of the older recruits in a draft he was supposed to be the youngest in??