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Michael Walters

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Michael Walters
Walters playing for the All-stars in 2020
Personal information
Full name Michael Walters
Nickname(s) Sonny Walters Sonny[1]
Date of birth (1991-01-07) 7 January 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Woodvale, Western Australia, Australia
Original team(s) Swan Districts (WAFL)
Draft No. 53, 2008 national draft
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 79 kg (174 lb)
Position(s) Forward / midfielder
Club information
Current club Fremantle Football club
Number 10
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2009– Fremantle 239 (365)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2020 All Stars 1 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 24, 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Michael Walters (born 7 January 1991) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally playing mainly as a small forward, Walters has recently spent more time in the midfield. In 2019 he was rewarded with his debut selection in the All-Australian team.[2]

Junior career

[edit]

A highly skilled player who mainly plays as a midfielder or forward,[3] Walters was selected by Fremantle with the 53rd pick in the 2008 AFL Draft. He had made his senior debut for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League in 2008, playing 2 matches.[4] Nicknamed Son-son, he lived on the same street in Midvale as his former Swan Districts teammates and fellow 2008 AFL draftees Nic Naitanui and Chris Yarran.[1] Walters' father Mike played for Central District in the South Australian National Football League.[5]

In 2007 he represented Western Australia at the Under 16 Championships and won the Kevin Sheehan Medal (shared with Tom Scully) as the best player in the championships, after kicking 10 goals in his three games.[6][7] He was a member of the 2007-08 AIS/AFL Academy squad[8] and in 2008 represented Western Australia at the 2008 AFL Under 18 Championships and was named in the All-Australian Team.[9]

AFL career

[edit]

Walters made his AFL debut for Fremantle in Round 11 of the 2009 AFL season at Football Park against Port Adelaide, after Hayden Ballantyne was a late withdrawal due to injury. He kicked a goal in his debut match, minutes before fellow debutant and Swan Districts teammate Clancee Pearce also kicked a goal.[10]

Prior to the start of the 2012 AFL season, Walters was suspended from training with Fremantle and sent back to train and play for Swan Districts due to a poor fitness level and being overweight.[11][12] He improved his fitness and performed well for Swans, and was accepted back at Fremantle in April.[13] Walters returned to the AFL in July, in round 16 against Melbourne. He played in every game after returning, kicking 22 goals from 10 games.[14][15] In late September 2012 Walters was re-signed for a further two years, until the end of the 2014 season.[16]

In 2013 Walters had his best season to date, kicking 46 goals From 21 games, was named in the initial All Australian 40-man squad and won his first Fremantle leading goal-kicker award.

In 2015, he had another consistent goal-kicking season, which saw him kick 44 goals across 22 games, winning his second Fremantle leading goal-kicker award.

In the 2017 season, his standout performance came in Round 15, at Domain stadium against St Kilda, where he collected a team-high 32 disposals and kicked 6 goals. He was ruled out for the remainder of the season after injuring his Posterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee, in Fremantle's loss to Hawthorn in Round 18. Despite being moved into the midfield towards the middle of the season, he finished the season with 22 goals from 17 games. He became a member of Fremantle's leadership group in 2017.[17]

In 2018, especially after the suspension and subsequent injury to Nat Fyfe, Walters spent increasing amounts of time in the midfield, where he finished the season averaging 19.8 disposals per game, his highest average in his career so far. He won Fremantle's leading goal-kicker award, his 4th for the club, kicking 22 goals from 18 games. He was a finalist for Mark of the Year, where he was nominated for his high-flying mark on Jeremy McGovern, against the West Coast Eagles in Round 20.

Walters started 2019 in blazing fashion, averaging career-high figures. In Round 10, he kicked a behind after the siren to give the Dockers a 1-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Optus stadium.[18] The following week in the Round 11 clash with Collingwood at the MCG, Walters kicked a goal with 30 seconds remaining to give the Dockers a 4-point lead which ultimately won them the game. Arguably, his best performance came in Round 13 when Fremantle played Port Adelaide at Optus stadium. He kicked 6.1 and picked up 25 disposals in the 21-point victory, and was awarded the maximum 10 in the AFLCA votes for his performance. Walters received his first All-Australian selection named in the 2019 All-Australian team as a half forward.[19]

The 2022 AFL season saw Walters make his return as a forward after spending time in the midfield in recent seasons.[20] Walters played his 200th game during Fremantle's round 23 clash against GWS, he played a pivotal role kicking three goals in Fremantle's 20 point win.[21] Walters played a crucial role in Fremantle's elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium kicking three goals.[22]

Walters missed Fremantle's first game of the 2023 AFL season against St Kilda due to an Achilles tendon injury.[23] Walters was named as the emergency substitute in Fremantle's round 2 clash against North Melbourne. He entered the game in the third quarter kicking two goals.[24] The Round 3 Western Derby saw Walters kick four goals during Fremantle's 41 point win over West Coast.[25] Walters kicked four goals in round 5 during Fremantle's 10 point win over Gold Coast, which was played at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, due to the AFL's inaugural Gather Round.[26]

In April 2023 Walters was subjected to racial and homophobic abuse on social media, along with teammate Nathan Wilson,[27][28] which was being investigated by AFL's integrity unit.[29]

In June 2023, it was announced that Walters had signed on for 2 more years at the Dockers, alongside fellow Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe.[30]

Michael kicked his 350th goal in round two of the 2024 AFL season against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.[31] He was one of Fremantle's best players the next week against the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium, collecting 21 disposals and kicking two goals during the match.[32] Walters suffered a hamstring injury during the round 14 loss to the Bulldogs,[33] and as a result he only managed four more games for the year,[34] playing as the substitute on three of those occasions.[35][36][37] He was originally named as the substitute for Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze fundraiser match against the Melbourne Demons in round nineteen, but the late withdrawal of Matthew Johnson due to injury meant he was elevated into the final 22. He finished the game having played perhaps his best match of the year, kicking a season-high four goals, and collecting 16 disposals during the 50 point win.[38]

Personal life

[edit]

Walters has three daughters.[39]

In October 2023, Walters became the number one ticket holder at the Perth Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season.[39][40] In March 2024, he became the number one ticket holder at the Cockburn Cougars for the 2024 NBL1 West season.[41]

Statistics

[edit]
Statistics are correct to the end of round 17, 2024[42]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2009 Fremantle 38 3 2 1 21 11 32 14 5 0.7 0.3 7.0 3.7 10.7 4.7 1.7 0
2010 Fremantle 38 5 8 1 52 17 69 15 12 1.6 0.2 10.4 3.4 13.8 3.0 2.4 0
2011 Fremantle 38 3 4 3 19 5 24 3 8 1.3 1.0 6.3 1.7 8.0 1.0 2.7 0
2012 Fremantle 38 10 22 11 83 36 119 40 29 2.2 1.1 8.3 3.6 11.9 4.0 2.9 0
2013 Fremantle 10 21 46 23 231 93 324 108 52 2.2 1.1 11.0 4.4 15.4 5.1 2.5 6
2014 Fremantle 10 8 15 13 79 28 107 29 20 1.9 1.6 9.9 3.5 13.4 3.6 2.5 0
2015 Fremantle 10 22 44 19 225 107 332 77 54 2.0 0.9 10.2 4.9 15.1 3.5 2.4 3
2016 Fremantle 10 22 36 21 244 157 401 91 66 1.6 1.0 11.1 7.1 18.2 4.1 3.0 3
2017 Fremantle 10 17 22 14 197 130 327 74 45 1.3 0.8 11.6 7.6 19.2 4.4 2.6 10
2018 Fremantle 10 18 22 14 206 150 356 65 59 1.2 0.8 11.4 8.3 19.8 3.6 3.3 8
2019 Fremantle 10 22 40 17 303 176 479 83 78 1.8 0.8 13.8 8.0 21.8 3.8 3.5 11
2020[a] Fremantle 10 14 15 7 145 102 247 44 40 1.1 0.5 10.4 7.3 17.6 3.1 2.9 8
2021 Fremantle 10 16 14 11 147 76 223 63 33 0.9 0.7 9.2 4.8 13.9 3.9 2.1 0
2022 Fremantle 10 21 25 15 172 124 296 82 57 1.1 0.7 8.1 5.9 14.0 3.9 2.7 0
2023 Fremantle 10 20 33 13 127 72 199 56 33 1.7 0.7 6.4 3.6 10.0 2.8 1.7 0
2024 Fremantle 10 14 13 11 80 47 127 39 28 0.9 0.8 5.7 3.4 9.1 2.8 2.0 TBC
Career 236 361 194 2331 1332 3663 883 619 1.5 0.8 9.9 5.6 15.5 3.7 2.6 49

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours and achievements

[edit]

Team

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Qualye, Emma (22 November 2008). "The street named desire". Realfooty.street-named-desire-20091124-j83n.html.
  2. ^ "2019 All Australian team: New skipper, nine debutants revealed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. ^ Broad, Ben; Countdown:Michael Walters Archived 9 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine; 25 November 2008
  4. ^ WAFL Online Profile Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Butler, Steve (14 September 2012). "What the Butler heard - finals second round". The West Australian. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  6. ^ NAB AFL Under 16 Championships - day six
  7. ^ WA second in Under 16s National Championships Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Two Queenslanders Names in 2007-08 AIS/AFL Academy
  9. ^ Emma Quayle; Vic Metro Shines Again; 20 July 2008
  10. ^ Butler, Steve. "Dockers beaten in Adelaide". The West Australian. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  11. ^ Duffield, Mark (23 January 2012). "Dockers send unfit Walters back to WAFL". The West Australian.
  12. ^ "Walters to train with Swan Districts". 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  13. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig; Miller, Dale (11 April 2012). "Walters ready to weigh in for Freo". The West Australian.
  14. ^ Quayle, Emma (14 September 2012). "Back from the brink". The Age.
  15. ^ Quartermaine, Braden (16 September 2012). "Fremantle Dockers re-sign forward Michael Walters". The Sunday Times.
  16. ^ Walters commits to Dockers
  17. ^ Duffield, Mark (16 February 2017). "Walters heeds lessons from past". PerthNow. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Freo thriller: Michael Walters point seals Fremantle Dockers win against Brisbane Lions". Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  19. ^ "'I'm enjoying my footy': Sonny side up for reborn Dockers star". afl.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Veteran's four-second role change leaves 'JL' scrambling". afl.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Fremantle Dockers forward Michael Walters explains 'M' goal celebration after brilliant milestone game v GWS". perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  22. ^ "AFL Finals 2022: Michael Walters stars as Fremantle Dockers stun Western Bulldogs in huge comeback". perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  23. ^ Schmook, Nathan. "No Ross reunion for Sonny, Freo's forgotten forward in the mix". afl.com.au. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  24. ^ Schmook, Nathan. "Freo go down to Roos in frantic finish". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  25. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig. "Western derby 56: Fremantle Dockers take step forward according to coach Justin Longmuir". perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  26. ^ Kimber, Howard. "Dockers dig deep to claw past Suns in a thriller". afl.com.au. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  27. ^ Bourke, Ed (11 April 2023). "Freo pair targeted with vile abuse". news.com.au. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  28. ^ Ryan, Peter (17 April 2023). "AFL 2023: Racism rampant as league braces for impact of Voice to parliament referendum". The Age. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  29. ^ Australian Associated Press (12 April 2023). "AFL opens investigations into racist abuse of four Indigenous players". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  30. ^ Hope, Shayne (5 June 2023). "Walters joins Fyfe in re-signing with Dockers to 2025". The Canberra Times.
  31. ^ "Gratitude and Goals – Walters' tribute to Fremantle". fremantlefc.com.au.
  32. ^ Schmook, Nathan (29 March 2024). "Dockers extend unbeaten run with victory over winless Crows". afl.com.au.
  33. ^ Black, Sarah (15 June 2024). "Bont inspires dominant Dogs in Docker demolition". afl.com.au.
  34. ^ "Michael Walters AFL tables".
  35. ^ Schmook, Nathan (6 July 2024). "Freo gives lowly Tigers the heave-ho to continue top-four push". Australian Football League.
  36. ^ Kalinic, Dejan (13 July 2024). "Hawks fly past Dockers to boost finals chances". afl.com.au.
  37. ^ Schmook, Nathan (25 August 2024). "Dockers distress! Port denies Freo finals, keeps Blues alive". afl.com.au.
  38. ^ Chadwick, Justin (22 July 2024). "Twist of fate helps Docker Walters star against Dees". watoday.
  39. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Craig (10 October 2023). "Dribble Podcast: Fremantle Dockers star Michael Walters becomes number one ticket holder at Perth Lynx". The West Australian. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  40. ^ "MICHAEL 'SONNY' WALTERS LOCKED IN AS LYNX #1 TICKET HOLDER FOR WNBL SEASON". wnbl.basketball/perth. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Number One Ticket Holder Announcement". facebook.com/cougarfamily. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  42. ^ Michael Walters's player profile at AFL Tables
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