FOR FANS of AFL clubs starved of on-field success, draft and trade wins often provide beacons of hope. Nostalgia helps too, and that’s exactly what the emergence of father-son gun Cody Walker is providing Carlton fans.

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The son of 202-game former Blue Andrew last year declared his intentions to pursue ties to Princes Park, having also been a member of Richmond’s Next Generation Academy (NGA). It has allowed him the opportunity to spend much of the preseason training at his future home.

While clubs are still in the dark regarding potential changes to the father-son and academy bidding process, the Blues have already mobilised to ensure they can match a likely very early bid for Walker in this year’s draft.

It’s for good reason too. With a full top-age campaign to play out, Walker has already racked up a string of accolades. This year, he’s a member of the AFL Academy and will look to repeat the feat of his title-winning Under 16 carnival in 2024, whereby he ended up a state MVP and All-Australian captain.

>> ONES TO WATCH: 26 AFL Draft prospects for 2026

Bendigo Pioneers, Vic CountryMidfielder

Cody Walker

Height: 184cm

Weight: -

DOB: 26-01-2008

BY THE NUMBERS:

2025 AFL U18 National Championships (4 games)
17.5 disposals | 4.8 marks | 2.0 tackles | 3.5 inside 50s | 0.3 goals

2025 Talent League (13 games)
25.6 disposals | 5.3 marks | 4.9 clearances | 6.1 inside 50s | 0.7 goals

ACCOLADES:

2026 AFL Academy member
2025 National Futures best on ground
2025 Talent League Team of the Year
2025 Bendigo Pioneers Rising Star
2025 Vic Country U18 debut
2024 Talent League debut
2024 U16 All-Australian captain
2024 Vic Country U16 MVP
2023 SSA U15 All-Australian

STRENGTHS

+ Accumulation
+ Athleticism
+ Contested ball
+ Explosive speed
+ Professionalism
+ Work rate

Walker is already quite a well-rounded prospect, especially as far as midfielders go. He has a dip in contested situations and is more than capable of winning the hard ball, possessing clean hands and great stoppage nous. From there, his power and athleticism come into play.

Walker has a terrific turn of speed, aiding his ability to escape to the outside and continue to take ground. Part of what makes Walker so hard to contain is that power, but also his toughness and how he stays on his toes in anticipation.

Outside of the stoppages, Walker remains a consistent accumulator with his ability to cover ground effortlessly. He has an insatiable appetite for possessions, able to work into space and demand the ball from teammates, who are more than willing to return the usual role of provider he plays.

His sheer work rate means he is not only an impactful midfielder, but also a dual-position threat who can roll off half-forward. Walker showed in last year’s National Futures game that he can be just as prolific in highly demanding, but less glamorous roles though hard running and smarts.

Walker’s work ethic is also linked to a high level of professionalism off the field, aided by his experience with Carlton and tutelage from a famous father. One of his intangible traits is his big-game nature, as proven each time he steps up to representative levels.

QUESTION MARK(S)

Trying to identify weaknesses in such high-end players is often akin to splitting hairs, and that’s hardly different with Walker. Ultimately, he does plenty of things at an elite level and that is what clubs will value. Though, perhaps the most glaring area for improvement revolves around adding polish to Walker’s game.

He tends to play at a high intensity and is often moving at speed, which can impact his disposal execution. More specifically, Walker’s kick efficiency can sometimes waver as he bursts into space or runs into trouble. In saying that, he is certainly a penetrating ball user. If Walker can refine his decision making and execution, it will allow him to take his hurt factor to the next level. It’s already high as it is.

OUR SCOUTS SAID…

Click the highlighted links to read our full Scouting Notes

“Named best on ground for Team Docherty, Walker showcased unbelievable work rate and power throughout the day. He dominated the first half in midfield and continued to rack up possessions as a high forward, displaying his patented burst speed to advance the play. The Carlton father-son prospect was clean and looked to exit contests like a bull out the gate, before finding wide options or blasting long into attack. He even showed hallmarks of his father’s game with a terrific leap and mark in the third quarter.” – 2025 National U17 Futures game

“Walker’s cleanliness at ground level and overhead was a standout feature of his game, as he was regularly seen grabbing the ball at speed and handballing quickly on the up to keep his side moving forward. Walker’s kicking was a feature for the most part, able to rip some bullets heading forward when in space, but suffering a little bit when there was pressure on the pass.” – Vic Country vs. Vic Metro, 2025 U18 National Championships

“Walker was gutsy and courageous all day with his attack on the ball, despite the opposition’s best efforts to put him off his game. He threw himself at the contest while also spreading well to provide plenty of run for the Pioneers with his strong aerobic underpinnings. Showing great reflexes at the fall of the ball, Walker was quick to find his boot and he found teammates quickly with great vision. His delivery inside 50 was at time erratic, however, the bottom-ager managed to hit targets at crucial times.” – POTW performance, Round 16 2025

“The 2026 Carlton father-son and Richmond NGA prospect held his own on debut, mostly playing forward with a decent run through midfield. His ability to cover ground was on show, as was his power around the contest and penetrative kicking. As a high forward, he serves to connect defence to attack with strong work rate.” – Talent League debut, Round 15 2024

“Carlton fans were rejoicing on Saturday as their 2026 father-son prospect turned in a best afield performance. The son of 202-game Blue, Andrew booted two of the first three goals of the game, backing himself from long-range to sink a pair of 50-metre bombs. Walker’s power and athleticism were the main event though, as he crashed and bashed at the contest, but also glided across the turf with smart and hard running on the spread.” – Vic Country vs. Vic Metro, 2024 U16 National Championships

WHERE HE SITS

Walker is firmly in the pick one conversation at this early stage, boasting as glittering a resume as any player in this year’s crop. The general consensus is that he stands a level above the rest with fellow club-tied prospect Dougie Cochrane – an athletic and freakishly talented 195cm utility out of South Australia.

On upside and given he plays in key positions, Cochrane may have the edge in the eyes of some. Although, Walker is the type of player whose consistency and body of work will win many fans over. Regardless, the Blues know better than anyone that he is well and truly near the pointy end.

Up next: Dougie Cochrane