Walsh set for Blues debut
CARLTON will unleash No.1 draft pick Sam Walsh among six new faces for the Blues in tonight’s season-opening clash against Richmond at the MCG.
After an eye-catching preseason, Walsh will get the chance to show Blues fans on the big stage why the club pounced on him with their top selection in last year’s national draft.
The 18-year-old will make his debut for the Blues alongside recruits Will Setterfield, Alex Fasolo, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman and mature-aged rookie Michael Gibbons.
Blues coach Brendon Bolton yesterday backed Walsh to withstand the pressure if he was targeted by the Tigers on his debut.
“He has been fantastic in the JLT. What I do know about Sam is he is one of the most level people I have ever met,’’ Bolton said.
“He is not emotionally high or low and he has got so much equilibrium that these things do not worry him.
“If they do (target him), they do, if they don’t, they don’t. I don’t think it will bother him.”
Bolton said the Blues had prepared for the likelihood of Richmond’s star recruit Tom Lynch playing, but team defence rather than match-ups would be key.
“(It’s) great for the game that key forwards are playing,’’ Bolton said.
“We have got Liam Jones and Weiters (Jacob Weitering) that would be really looking forward to that challenge.
“You want the best forwards ... but we need to defend and we planned for both anyway.”