Blues play it safe with Sam
CARLTON leader Ed Curnow says No. 1 draft pick Sam Walsh is ready to make an impact from Round 1.
Curnow, yesterday named in the club’s leadership group with co-captains Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty, former skipper Marc Murphy, and Kade Simpson, says Walsh, 18, was already mature beyond his years.
“He’s (Walsh) been in and out of training a little bit be- cause they’re managing him, which is a smart thing to do,” Curnow said on SEN radio yesterday.
“He’s already a pro, that’s what’s impressed me. His body, his shape and physique and his repeat efforts on the track — he’s winning the footy, he’s come in with the right type of confidence that I can see him playing straight away and playing well.”
The former Geelong Falcon was a monster at under-18 level and will be injected into the midfield with the likes of Cripps, Murphy, Zac Fisher, Sam Petrevski-Seton Paddy Dow.
Curnow said Murphy jumped at the chance at continuing in the leadership group, after relinquishing the captaincy to Cripps and Docherty at the end of last season.
“I think Murph, he’s pretty passionate about seeing the club do well and he’s been here his whole career and it’s been a tough ride at times and he’s been there on the frontline for that for the footy club,” Curnow said.
“I know Murph really wants to support Doc and Cripp and and get behind them and give them the best chance and the club the best chance at succeeding in the coming years.
“To do that he wants to be in the leadership group and I think that’s awesome.”
Curnow said recruit Will Setterfield had settled in well at the club, but was still working on getting healthy after a litany of injuries at GWS.
“He’s had a heap of injuries, he’s working really hard on basically getting his body right so that he can perform at the level and be consistently out on the track,” Curnow said.
“He had his first session with us the other day which is exciting for him and (he’s a) really good kid to be honest so I think he’s going to do well.
“He’s quite big and strong, he’s around Matty Kennedy, Patty Cripps — those three are probably going to be our big bulls.
“He’s competitive and he’s obviously got all the attributes so he’ll be a great addition to the club.”
Curnow, 29, is entering his ninth season with the Blues, the dogged tagger playing 143 games and booting 27 goals.