WHEN Sam Walsh joined Sam Edmund and Luke Hodge on SEN prior to the Brownlow Medal, the triple Hawthorn premiership captain had the ultimate praise.

For someone who is widely touted as this generation’s ‘Mr. September’, Hodge volunteered his opinion that Walsh’s last month - his maiden finals campaign - was “probably as good a first three finals for a player that I’ve seen”.

One of the favourites for the Gary Ayres Award as the best finals player for 2023, Walsh’s last three matches were electric, averaging 32 disposals, eight inside 50s and six tackles in the elimination, semi and preliminary finals.

In a frustrating season hampered by injury, Walsh made up for lost time, elevating his already impressive standing in the competition for his September exploits.

“I remember growing up watching you guys [Hawthorn] dominate in finals: that’s where you want to be as a player,” Walsh said.

“For me, it was a frustrating year at times. I felt like I was always trying to train, and I got a little bit of a reward for that in finals. 

“The ability to be strong in the contest and try and outnumber is a big thing for me. That got me involved at either end in finals, and we were combining well as a midfield which helps.”

Back surgery essentially wiped out all of Walsh’s pre-season before a hamstring injury - just as he started to get back to typical Sam Walsh form - stopped him in his tracks for a month. However, the Carlton co-vice captain came back on the eve of finals, and he announced his return with a bang.

The chance to pull on the Navy Blue and do so in football’s finest month - bringing thousands of Bluebaggers along for the ride in the process - isn’t something that was lost on Walsh.

01:27

AFL SF | Walsh never stops running in inspiring outing

Sam Walsh helps his side over the line with a match-winning display that included a host of disposals, tackles and goals

And it’s left him wanting more.

“It definitely brings a smile to your face when you’re talking about it, it brings a lot of joy to a lot of people,” he said.

“I mentioned to a few of the boys that the finals feeling is very addictive. Two weeks in a row we were playing in front of 90,000 people, and then we went to the Gabba and you feel like you’ve got a home crowd to one end. It was pretty cool.

“It definitely gives extra motivation to get back to that point.”

02:36

Cripps' message to fans after 2023 comes to a close

Captain Patrick Cripps spoke on the preliminary final against Brisbane, grateful for the support of a record-breaking Navy Blue supporter base.

Along with that motivation comes the lessons learned in the preliminary final, where the Blues were within touching distance of a Grand Final berth.

It wasn’t that Carlton wasn’t up for the occasion — the first quarter proved anything but. However, Walsh said there was no shortage of feedback provided in the loss to the Lions.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people and they reckon that’s the best quarter of footy we played all year,” he said.

“Brisbane taught us a bit of a lesson in the second and third quarters and then you’re chasing tail after that. Big respect to them: there’s a lot to learn, but it was a good finals series for us.”