Tristen Walker
Encyclopedia
Tristen Walker is a former Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
.
From Claremont, Walker was picked up by Collingwood
late in the 2001 National Draft
. After playing his first season with Williamstown, he made his debut in 2003 in Round 1. Forced to play at fullback, due to the absence of Simon Prestigiacomo
, he held superstar spearhead Matthew Richardson
of Richmond to one goal and six behinds. He was dropped soon after, before impressing in the latter stages of the season, winning a repreive for the 2003 Grand Final
due to the suspension of key forward Anthony Rocca
for striking Port Adelaide ruckman Brendan Lade late in the first quarter of Collingwood's stunning 44-point defeat of the Power in the Preliminary Final a week earlier, Walker bypassing the more experienced Jarrod Molloy
and Steve McKee to gain selection. Having played in the Williamstown premiership side the week prior in the VFL
, it appeared that Walker was on track to record two flags in as many weeks, though the Magpies ultimately fell to a heavy 50-point loss to the Brisbane Lions
.
Walker was again unable to reach a consistent pattern of form throughout 2004 and 2005, though arguably his inability to nail down a place in the senior side could be partially attributed to his struggle to find a key position to call his own, be it at centre half forward, or centre half back. He was fortunate to remain on the list despite a sizeable cull at the end of the 2005 season, though his AFL career was terminated 12 months later, after failing to appear in the senior side in 2006, his final match arising in round 17 of the previous year against St Kilda under the Friday night lights of Telstra Dome.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
From Claremont, Walker was picked up by Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
late in the 2001 National Draft
2001 AFL Draft
The 2001 AFL Draft consisted of a national draft, a rookie draft, a pre-season draft and a trade period. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League .In 2001 there were 83...
. After playing his first season with Williamstown, he made his debut in 2003 in Round 1. Forced to play at fullback, due to the absence of Simon Prestigiacomo
Simon Prestigiacomo
Simon 'Presti' Prestigiacomo is a retired Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League.-Early career: forward line:...
, he held superstar spearhead Matthew Richardson
Matthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)
Matthew "Richo" Richardson , is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Australian Football League...
of Richmond to one goal and six behinds. He was dropped soon after, before impressing in the latter stages of the season, winning a repreive for the 2003 Grand Final
2003 AFL Grand Final
The 2003 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Brisbane Lions and the Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 2003...
due to the suspension of key forward Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League...
for striking Port Adelaide ruckman Brendan Lade late in the first quarter of Collingwood's stunning 44-point defeat of the Power in the Preliminary Final a week earlier, Walker bypassing the more experienced Jarrod Molloy
Jarrod Molloy
Jarrod Molloy was an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.A key position player, Molloy was trialled in both attack and defence as his career wore on, with most success enjoyed near the goalmouth....
and Steve McKee to gain selection. Having played in the Williamstown premiership side the week prior in the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
, it appeared that Walker was on track to record two flags in as many weeks, though the Magpies ultimately fell to a heavy 50-point loss to the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
.
Walker was again unable to reach a consistent pattern of form throughout 2004 and 2005, though arguably his inability to nail down a place in the senior side could be partially attributed to his struggle to find a key position to call his own, be it at centre half forward, or centre half back. He was fortunate to remain on the list despite a sizeable cull at the end of the 2005 season, though his AFL career was terminated 12 months later, after failing to appear in the senior side in 2006, his final match arising in round 17 of the previous year against St Kilda under the Friday night lights of Telstra Dome.