COME the end of the season, Carlton fans will be hoping for a historic double in the Rising Star stakes.

After Madison Prespakis became the Club’s first Rising Star winner in the AFLW season, the debut season of Sam Walsh could see the youngster bring the AFL equivalent to Ikon Park.

The stats behind the youngster’s debut season have been nearly unprecedented, placing first among potential rising stars in disposals, inside 50s, clearances, contested possessions and metres gained.

With an ability to get amongst the action from the outset, Walsh’s football brain and capacity to cover the ground has seen him mix it with the very best in the early going.

In all bar one game he’s played this season, Walsh has ranked in the top five for distance covered.

One of only five players (since the stat was recorded) to collect 20 or more disposals in his opening eight games, Walsh has slotted in seamlessly since his Round 1 debut in front of 85,016 people.

With his NAB AFL Rising Star nomination coming in Round 4, Walsh collected 32 disposals against Brisbane in Round 12 — a performance which saw him dubbed the ‘Robin’ to Patrick Cripps’ ‘Batman’.

But how exactly does he stack up against the other 26 Rising Star winners?

Very favourably.

With the likes of Nathan Buckley, Adam Goodes, Sam Mitchell and Joel Selwood preceding him, Walsh’s average of 24.7 disposals so far sees him ranked No.1 compared to those in their NAB AFL Rising Star-winning seasons.

He also sits first for average disposals and uncontested possessions - as well as second for clearances - amongst all previous No.1 draft picks.

With still nine games to play this season, it’s evident for all to see that Walsh (who has re-signed with Carlton until the end of 2022) will be a key player in Navy Blue for years to come.