Carlton star Sam Walsh is eyeing off further improvement after a third-place finish in the 2021 Brownlow Medal.
Walsh enjoyed a stellar season in 2021 which saw him become Carlton's most dangerous midfielder and ultimately one of the game's most competitive stars.
Speaking after day one of pre-season, Walsh said that he had his eye on a few areas for improvement.
"I think you always try to improve," Walsh said.
"I think my strength will always be my running but playing on-ball, it demands a lot of you and I think I took a little bit of a step in my contested game and I think that can go to another level.
"(I'll) probably just keep on learning from those new boys and (learning) how to play together and play for each other."
The former Geelong Falcon went on to say that the energy at the club was terrific on the first day back, with Ikon Park welcoming all but five Carlton players to training despite senior players not being required to report to the club until December 6.
"It's great to be back. It's a pretty good day for it as well," Walsh said to media after training.
"It's good to see all the boys again and a few new faces as well. It's pretty exciting times, there's always a lot of energy day one."
A Brisbane fan as a kid, Walsh is now coached by one of the Lions' all-time best players in Michael Voss.
Walsh said that it was a bit surreal to be under the tutelage of the three-time premiership captain.
"He's a great character first of all," Walsh stated.
"It's been great to get to meet him before day one. He seems like a real caring character that's going to be strong on standards.
"He's obviously done it all as a player and had some really good experience as a coach as well. I'm really looking forward to picking his brain as well as the other coaches."
The 21-year-old admitted to having a Brisbane jumper signed by Voss hanging on his childhood bedroom wall.
"It's pretty crazy really," Walsh said.
"You grow up looking at these people and now I'm coached by him. I was probably a bit young when he was dominating games but you look at his resume and you have so much respect for the leader he was.
"I actually had a Lions jumper signed by Vossy on my wall, I don't know if he knows about that."
Liam Jones' decision to retire over his stance to not get the COVID vaccine has left the Blues with a gaping hole down back. However, Walsh believes the Blues will be able to cover the loss of Jones.
The Rising Star winner said he respected Jones' decision and that he has been in touch with the retired defender.
"Obviously as a club, we respect Liam's decision and he's entitled to his own opinion with it all. It's obviously a bit of a shame to see him go but we have to move on now and plan without him.
"Definitely (I felt for him). He was obviously left with a real tough situation and I know how much he enjoys playing footy and loved playing for this club. I reached out to him and he got back to me so he seems in a pretty good mindset."
