Cody Walker Comes Into Spotlight as Carlton Father-Son Prospect
Cody Walker, an 18-year-old Carlton father-son prospect and one of the most highly rated players in this year's draft, escapes the attention by fishing the Campaspe River near Echuca with his father Andrew, a former Blues star drafted at pick No.2 in 2003.
Cody Walker, an 18-year-old Carlton father-son prospect and one of the most highly rated players in this year's draft, has come into the spotlight. His escape is a fishing rod and the Campaspe River, a short drive from his family's property in Echuca, Victoria.
Walker is almost a household name before he has been selected. He says the river is where the pressure fades.
A sanctuary on the farm
The Walker property is a working farm with a sign on the front gate. Its backyard holds a pool, golf clubs, nets and goal and point posts that have served as Walker's targets for years. The family has recently brought a new batch of cows onto the land.
Past the cattle, down the right side of the property, sits the river. Walker and his father Andrew often go there to throw in a line, with Murray cod the main prize.
"We're usually around a campfire or just sit around and listen to the quiet. It's a good escape," Walker said. "There's no noise, there's no technology, it's you and yourself and the great sounds of nature."
He picked one particular day in September to prove the point. The NFL game at the MCG was taking over Melbourne, but Walker, three hours away, cared little about it.
The Andrew Walker connection
Carlton drafted Andrew Walker at pick No.2 in 2003. He arrived as an athletic, at times acrobatic utility who could play almost anywhere, and he did.
He made his debut the following season in round five. His 26-disposal first outing against West Coast earned him the Rising Star nomination. He was still finishing school at Caulfield Grammar and had moved in with Blues football manager Shane O'Sullivan.
O'Sullivan is still at the club. He spent plenty of weekends watching Cody play this season, and his daughter Lillian is Carlton's wellbeing manager.
Andrew was 22 when he and his high school sweetheart Kylie, now his wife, had Cody. That meant his son was old enough to remember parts of a 13-year, 202-game career at Ikon Park.
Cody ran out with the team for his father's last game. A photo shows him and younger brother Arli alongside Patrick Cripps. He would also go to the rooms after games and kick the ball around at the club during the week with anyone who would kick back.
"I still remember a lot of the games we went to," Cody said. "I enjoyed travelling up to Gold Coast, that was a holiday for us, and I remember his last game pretty clearly."
He says one game still stings. He was home sick with his nan the day his father took a big mark. "I can't believe I missed it," Cody said.
