Top gun’s ready to fire

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 because they’re managing him, which is a smart thing to do,” Curnow said on SEN radio.

“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.”

Walsh 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 and 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.