Cody Walker has been performing well for Echuca and in representative sides. Photo: Aidan Briggs
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Aidan Briggs
Cody Walker’s star is on the rise.
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The son of Carlton great and current Echuca co-coach Andrew, Walker is making steps towards a top-level career of his own.
The 16-year-old was named at rover and as captain of the All-Australian team for the under-16 AFL National Development Championships.
The championships saw each side play three games in their pool, with Walker’s Vic Country side taking out pool A ahead of South Australia, Vic Metro and Western Australia.
The team’s campaign started with a victory over Vic Metro 8.17 (65) to 7.7 (49), with Walker kicking two goals and being named among his side’s best.
Country was defeated in its second match-up of the championships by Western Australia, with Walker again in Vic Country’s best, before a thrilling one-point win, 9.11 (65) to 9.10 (64), over South Australia sealed the pool victory for the side.
Along with being named as captain of the All-Australian team, Walker was selected by his coaches as Vic Country’s MVP of the competition.
Walker averaged 28 disposals (13 contested), three marks and seven clearances in the competition.
Cody Walker was named MVP for Vic Country Under-16s at the national championships. Photo: EFNC
In profiling the All-Australian selections, AFL national talent and international manager Kevin Sheehan described Walker as “a stoppage star with his ability to read the ball and extract it from congestion, then use it effectively by hand and foot”.
“He works extremely hard from contest to contest and has a real impact on the game with his production,” Sheehan said.
Walker made four appearances for Echuca’s thirds this year before being called up to the seniors for the Murray Bombers’ round 10 meeting with Shepparton Bears.
In his three appearances in the top grade, Walker has averaged 18.3 disposals (eight contested) 1.3 clearances, 6.3 inside 50s and 2.7 intercept possessions for Echuca.
“He’s a couple years off being drafted yet, so you add a few more years of footy developing IQ and body size, and he’s going to become a truly special player,” Echuca seniors co-coach Simon Maddox told The Riv after Walker’s debut against Shepparton Bears.
“It was as good a first game as I’ve seen from anyone in a long time.”
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