EXCITING young midfielder Sam Walsh is this week’s deserved recipient of the Round 4 NAB AFL Rising Star Nomination.

The No.1 pick from the 2018 NAB AFL draft notched up 28 disposals, six clearances and a goal yesterday at Metricon Stadium.

Walsh has made the transition into AFL seamlessly, with the 18-year old already averaging over 26 disposals a game in his first four outings.  

In his first three matches, the former Geelong Falcon joined the elite company of Greg Williams, Mark Bairstow and Gilbert McAdam as the only players to record 24 or more disposals in their first three career AFL/VFL matches.

Having already made an impact early in his AFL career as a hard-running, classy midfielder, Walsh showed his courage on Sunday as he took a big hit whilst sitting under a high ball during the third quarter.

Senior coach Brendon Bolton praised the courage of Walsh, which matched his eye-catching ability to win the ball.  

“He is terrific, as a first-year player to once again rack up close to 30 possessions and show his courage, sitting under that contest, he got crunched,” said Bolton.

“It was a big hit however it was great to see him get back up and go again and run the game out.”

Walsh’s first month of AFL football has seen him collect surreal numbers, gathering 24, 25, 28 and 28 disposals, including a total of 20 clearances and 17 inside 50s.

The nomination highlights Walsh’s early season form as part of a young and exciting midfield group, alongside Patrick Cripps, Paddy Dow, Will Setterfield, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Lochie O’Brien and Zac Fisher.

Walsh now has the opportunity to become the Blue’s first AFL NAB Rising Star winner since the award’s inception back in 1993.