Sam Walsh signs long-term Blues deal

Shayne Hope | February 7, 2022

Star midfielder Sam Walsh says his bumper contract extension with Carlton has put him in a strong frame of mind as he attempts to play a role in leading the AFL club back into the finals.

The Blues have not tasted September action in eight years but head into 2022 with renewed optimism after the key appointments of Michael Voss as coach and Brian Cook as chief executive.

Walsh’s signature on a new four-year deal – taking him through to the end of 2026 – is another significant boost after he was named joint vice-captain with Jacob Weitering in a streamlined leadership group alongside captain Patrick Cripps.

The trio are crucial figures in Carlton’s attempt to climb the ladder and are now all committed to the club long-term.

Cripps and Weitering are signed with the Blues until the end of 2027 and 2025 respectively, and the club will be eager to get similar commitments from key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, who are both out of contract at the end of next year.

Walsh will be a restricted free agent when his new deal runs out.

“The beauty of the process is that us and the club were on the same page, so the four years was the perfect amount for me,” the 21-year-old said.

“I’ve also got this year … so it’s probably five years committing to the club.

“To be able to do that just leaves me really settled and in a strong frame of mind, and I know I can come through with a great group of fellas.”

Walsh, the No.1 draft pick in 2018, has played all 61 possible games with Carlton since being drafted and was named an All-Australian for the first time last year.

He finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal count with 30 votes, the equal highest tally polled by any Carlton player in history, but it is team success he craves.

“From a list perspective, this is probably the least that it’s changed in (my) time, so (we’ve got) the ability to keep on working with players and know their strengths and how we want to work together,” Walsh said.

“On top of that, having new coaches has brought in a different dynamic this year and we feel like we’ve been able to gel together really nicely.

“Their thoughts on the game have been really appreciated by us and we’re really attacking it.”

Meanwhile, Gold Coast have signed SANFL star James Tsitas as a pre-season supplementary selection.

The 26-year-old midfielder won the Magarey Medal as the best player in the second-tier competition last year and played a key role in Woodville-West Torrens’ premiership.

Collingwood have re-signed running defender Isaac Quaynor for a further three seasons, while Hawthorn have locked up the services of emerging backman Denver Grainger-Barras on a new two-year deal.