Echuca’s Cody Walker had to come off early during the opening game of Victoria Country’s Under-18 National Championships campaign after hurting his shoulder.
Echuca AFL draft prospect Cody Walker had an injury scare in his first game for Victoria Country at the Under-18 National Championships.
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Playing against the Allies, Walker had to leave the field after hurting his shoulder in the second half.
The 18-year-old, tied to Carlton as a father-son selection, said the injury was close to being a grade two strain, but was more a minor issue that was manageable.
“I just got a pretty heavy collision in the early third quarter, it was just an AC (acromioclavicular) strain, so it was nothing too serious in the end,” Walker said.
“I got in the next day at Carlton and they got me in for scans pretty quick.
“I’ll be back hopefully for the WA game coming up next Friday; I’ve been in rehab for a week, pretty much every day at the Blues.
“They’ve been really helpful in the past six months and I’m really looking forward to finishing off my rehab and doing it as best as I can and hopefully get back for the next game.”
Victoria Country ended up coming away with a 13-point win, 14.12 (96) to 12.11 (83).
Walker, who is also co-captain of the side, was on his way to a strong display before coming off, having had 16 disposals and five clearances.
He said that playing VFL football this year at Carlton had provided him with plenty of confidence and was an advantage when suiting up for Victoria Country.
The team is wearing an Indigenous jumper in all its matches throughout the championships, one that was co-designed by Walker.
Victoria Country under-18 boys player Ethan Drever wears the team’s Indigenous jumper, which was co-designed by Echuca’s Cody Walker. Photo: AFL Victoria
The Echuca native, along with teammate Tanner Armstrong, were approached by Victoria Country’s manager to assist in the jumper’s design, both players being from Yorta Yorta country.
Walker included his auntie Mel — with previous experience in the space — in the process, and she primarily curated the design with inputs from the two players, the jumper having a strong connection to Yorta Yorta land.
“The Vic Country symbol is the three rivers that surround our areas, the Murray, Campaspe and the Goulburn, and then there’s also a dotted line that goes through the jumper, which (represents) the border of Vic Country,” Walker said.
“Also there’s two long-neck turtles that go throughout the jumper, which are Yorta Yorta’s totem, so that’s something really close to me and Tanner and my auntie Mel, and then the rest (of the elements) are just sort of symbols of meeting areas and coming together, which Vic Country are doing right now.”
Walker’s Victoria Country commitments follow four VFL appearances for Carlton in 2026.
He said Carlton’s plan was to essentially treat him as a first-year player this year, providing him with as much experience as possible and allowing him to become familiar with the club before being drafted.
Another part of Walker’s adaptation is navigating the national scrutiny surrounding him ahead of an expected high selection in the AFL draft later this year.
The prospect said with so much noise about his shoulder injury, he decided to hop off social media during the rehabilitation process.
“I’m around blokes at the club every day like Patrick Cripps that get hammered in the media, it’s such a big club Carlton that it’s always in the news every day, so I’m around people that are in the same sort of position as me that do get a little bit of media attention,” Walker said.
“Seeing how they go about it is really cool and I’m very lucky to be able to see how they do it, and it makes me feel really comfortable each day.”
Walker is also closely keeping tabs on the latest with Echuca in Goulburn Valley League and the Murray Bombers product is hoping to make an appearance for his home side after the championships.
Another local featuring in the national competition is Moama product Beth Morris, who was selected for Victoria Country’s under-18 girls.
Morris’ side lost its first game to the Allies by 18 points, but she had a solid outing with 11 disposals, six tackles and one clearance.
Victoria Country will next be in action away to Queensland on Sunday, June 28.
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