WHAT a difference a year can make in the life of an AFL player.

Andrew Walker's short career was at the crossroads late in season 2010.

The dashing midfielder was seemingly out of favour with the Carlton coaching panel, after failing to make the senior squad in three of the last five games of the Blues' 2010 campaign.

His performances were always under the microscope, given Walker was the No.2 selection in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft - a year which produced stars such as Adam Cooney, Colin Sylvia and David Mundy.

Then came the trade period, where Walker's name was splashed around openly, linking him with various deals designed to reignite the speedster's career at a new club in a fresh environment.

But fast-forward to round 11 of season 2011, and it is impossible to imagine him in any other jumper.

Walker's six-goal haul against Port Adelaide on Sunday evening, his best return at AFL level, signified an inspiring turnaround in the 25-year-old's 113-game career with the Blues.

Now, Walker is an irreplaceable cog in the Carlton forward line, and Blues' coach Brett Ratten knows he has a secret weapon in his pocket as the second half of the season approaches.

"[He's] got a lot more confidence and consistency in his performance," Ratten said after the match.

"Today he really helped us stay in the game when maybe we couldn't score."

Walker was the Blues' only goal-scorer to quarter-time against Port Adelaide, and kicked four of Carlton's five goals to the half-time break.

"He was the one shining light for us down forward that really got us going as a team," Ratten said.

Walker has played closer to goal this season as a mobile mid-sized forward, and is reaping the rewards on the stats sheets. Along with Jeff Garlett, Walker leads Carlton's goalkicking with 25 for the year, an average of 2.5 goals a match.

Tellingly, Walker has also played every game for Carlton this season.

Teammate Andrew Carrazzo was not at all surprised by Walker's match-winning six-goal performance when speaking with carltonfc.com.au after the Blues' 62-point victory over Port.

"He's got a bit of X-factor about him, he's a really dangerous player," Carrazzo said.

"But probably the thing that sets him apart is his work rate - he's got fantastic endurance and he does a lot of unrewarded stuff."

Perhaps season 2011 will be remembered as the year Andrew Walker silenced his critics and received some well-earned rewards.