Ten years ago to the day, and 169 senior games ago, Andrew Walker quite literally launched his senior League career.

Remarkably it happened against West Coast – the team Walker’s Carlton confronts this Saturday – way back in the 5^th round of 2004.

It was Saturday, April 24 at the old Princes Park ground when the 17 year-old kid from Echuca propelled himself skywards by way of Andrew Embley’s trusty shoulder blades.

Ten years on they still talk about the leap which capped Walker’s stunning debut - on an afternoon that earned the player a Brownlow vote and a Rising Star nomination and the team a meritorious 49-point win.

When reminded of the landmark moment, Walker responded: “I just bumped into a Carlton supporter who said he was there to see my first game, and I told him ‘Funny you should say that - ten years ago today’”.

“The funny thing about that day is that it reminds me of my grandfather Elwyn Anderson,” Walker said. “He passed away four days before my first game and I kept it pretty quiet, but it surprises me now to think that it’s ten years since he’s passed away.

“I think my grandfather’s passing actually helped prepare me for what might come in the next ten years of football. Unfortunately the first three or four years at the club weren’t overly successful, but when you lose someone as close as your grandfather it does put it all in perspective.”

Lining up on a wing at the first bounce, Walker earned as his opponent another Echuca boy, West Coast’s Michael Braun. Later, he would pit his skills against Ben Cousins and one C. Judd.

Only seems like yesterday.

“It’s amazing that I can actually remember everything about that game even though I’m 170 games deep. I remember the crowd and just how vocal the people were,” Walker said.

“I think that was the beauty of playing at Princes Park. You knew you were a Carlton player when you played there because they were just so much more loud.”

As for the leap itself, Walker has a reasonable explanation for why he unfortunately didn’t haul in the Sherrin.

Andrew Walker launches himself in his debut match. (Photo: AFL Photos)

“I just remember how exhausted I was at that moment because it was a massive step up from VFL to AFL level,” Walker said. “I remember that David Teague kicked the ball, I saw it and went for the mark as I’ve always done - but I cramped in both calves in the process. If you watch it back I lie on the ground for a second after it to get my breath back.”

Did it cost him the car?

“Was it a car back then? Maybe it was a hamper,” came the reply.

Walker retains his first-game jumper as a fitting memento of that day in April, and as he said: “It’s a reminder of a very special moment for me, and to think now that it’s ten years on is really unbelievable”.