Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker has his sights set on a Round 1 debut against Richmond in 2027.
Having graduated from school last year, Walker moved from his beloved native Echuca to Melbourne this year, where he has been ensconced in Carlton's AFL program, living life as a league footballer and playing seven games of VFL footy, alongside Vic Country, AFL Academy, Talent League and local footy commitments.
Having attended Carlton's past five Round 1 matches and watched Harry Dean, who he has grown close to throughout 2026, make an immediate impact, he hopes to earn a role next year.
“I think (Patrick Cripps) told me a month ago to attack your first year like you're a 13-year veteran. Don't hold back. That's where Sam Walsh went well in his first year. He went really well, and I want to get the best out of myself next year,” Walker told Zero Hanger.
“I don't know why you wouldn't (circle it in the calendar). Round 1 Carlton v Richmond would be pretty special.”
The now delisted Harry Charleson is a player Walker connected closely with in 2026, with their shared country roots giving them common ground over which they bonded.
Walker's competitiveness is a common denominator when speaking to those close to him, and Charleson got an up-close look at it in 2026, which gives him confidence the teenager can impact in his first year.
“He's a very hard worker with white line fever,” Charleson said of Walker.
“In one of his first trainings at the club we were doing a warm-up, and he ran through me like a steam train, and we were only meant to be going at 50 per cent, so that gave me a little wake-up call.
“It rattled me, and then I got talking to him, and he's just a genuine fella off the field and works hard.
“He fits in seamlessly. He went up against Crippa, Walshy and Jagga and you couldn't tell he was so young.
“He doesn't show much emotion if he's nervous or whatever it is. He backs himself in and the work he does during the week, and he's a very good teammate – if there is ever a fight or a scuffle, he'll be the first to back you up.
“He doesn't care who it is, he always goes hard.”
Through his senior opportunities for Carlton VFL, the AFL Academy and Echuca, he has played a mixture of inside and outside midfield and as a high half forward, and it is in the latter role he believes he will start his career at the top level, in a similar vein to Jagga Smith.
Walker's kicking and decision-making have been externally critiqued throughout the year, but he has shown growth in that area and believes he has the style of footy to slot in immediately at Carlton.
“My competitiveness is why I'm so good at footy, I believe, and I never want to lose that edge of my game, and off the field I'm quite competitive whether it is a game of Jenga or whatever it is,” Walker said.
“I love the competitive side of myself, and you have to have it at the next level.”
Ensconcing himself in Carlton's system has allowed him to mature significantly across the course of 2026, which reflects in how he views both the prospect of slipping somewhat given he is not in the open pool and the perceived pressure of being a father-son prospect.
“If you asked me that three months ago, I would've said I wanted to go (pick) one, but I think that ship has sailed a little bit and now I've seen how hard it is to be in an AFL program and prepare and train consistently and this is the first step of it, getting drafted,” Walker said.
“I'm ready to get into the system; the number doesn't matter too much, but it is cool to see where you end up.
“Throughout, when I was younger, there might have been more pressure. There are questions about whether you are good or overrated and that sort of talk, but I think that is where the club has helped out a lot.
“Patty Cripps, Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith have all dealt with pressure. I don't feel a lot of pressure on me right now, but I also think it is a privilege to be an AFL player's son and that comes with great privileges being a club-tied talent.”
Despite the external expectation that Walker's bloodlines would inevitably lead to him selecting to nominate as a Carlton father-son over Richmond Academy prospect, he labelled it “the hardest choice he ever had to make”.
Both clubs presented him with the opportunity to train with the AFL program this year and attempted to woo him, with his connection to the Tigers stemming from his proud Yorta Yorta Indigenous heritage.
He is closely connected to his ancestry, co-designing Vic Country's Indigenous guernsey this year, and he cherished the opportunity to play in his club's Indigenous Round, named after grandad, Archie Walker.
“Andrew introduced the Archie Walker Round in 2018, and it's a round he's proud of, and we're proud of as a club," club president Justin Hatfield said.
"We've done a lot of work around trying to extend the knowledge base of Indigenous culture around our area."
Walker also got the opportunity to play in a flag for Echuca, making the Walker family the first in the club's history to have three generations win a senior premiership after Dad, Andrew, and grandad, Archie, also did so.
Given the risk of injury and that he would take a close mate's spot in the senior grand final side, the decision to play was one he grappled with before making his decision.
“Whenever he's home, he's at football training. Cody's been knocking around our clubrooms for the last 10 years, so he's comfortable in the environment at Echuca," co-coach Simon Maddox said of Walker.
“He has confidence and backs himself to the hilt. When he does something special, you go, ‘Don't put the seatbelt on, put the foot to the throttle'. The more of him you see, the more talent there is. There are a lot of similarities to (Dad) Andrew.
“Cody doesn't take those big hangers, but he's got more of that Chris Judd explosiveness out of the pack. The world is Cody's oyster. It's worked out well. He got a premiership with his hometown and got through unscathed, and hopefully he will progress into a generational talent.”
Cody's connection to Echuca is something those point to as being a key part of who he is, remaining intertwined with the club.
So significant does Cody view the role of local clubs in country kids' development, he successfully advocated for a change to his Talent League club, Bendigo Pioneers, training nights to Wednesday nights, enabling players to still remain at local training on Tuesdays and Thursdays while progressing their footy.
Co-captain of Bendigo this year, he played just three games for them, but remained engaged in leadership discussions all year.
“He's an incredibly loyal and grounded kid,” Pioneers coach Danny O'Bree said of Walker.
“He's connected with his family and community. He loves to get away and have his own time with his family. He's passionate about his Carlton stuff and how that's going and the Echuca Football Club.”
Having been unable to break through for a debut in his two seasons, Charleson believes Walker's insight into Carlton's system and structure prior to being AFL-listed will be significant as he seeks to take the next step.
O'Bree highlighted the attributes Walker could add to Carlton next year in a forward role.
“He's an amazing competitor and fierce in everything he does,” O'Bree added.
“The physicality stuff, as you've seen through the VFL games, is not a concern for him. Learning the processes and what the Carlton Footy Club have in store for him, and being down there all this year and working with senior players in the program, I think he could fit into a couple of roles there. After another pre-season this year, I think he could be ready for Round 1 next year.
“He's had some great moments in the last couple of years as a high forward. He hits the scoreboard and is incredible with his pressure.”
For the full 20-minute interview with Walker, click here.
