Sidelineed Carlton standout Sam Walsh remains optimistic about his return to the Blues’ lineup in the upcoming weeks, despite rumors suggesting that the Rising Star awardee might require surgery for his troublesome back, which the club has dismissed. Walsh has been ruled out of action until at least after the club’s Round 2 bye, causing him to miss recent victories over Brisbane at the Gabba and Richmond.
The All-Australian midfielder had also faced a back issue at the end of the 2022 season, causing him to miss the start of the subsequent season. However, there’s hope for a quicker return this time around. Senior coach Michael Voss denied reports of Walsh undergoing surgery soon, emphasizing the club’s cautious approach and the possibility of Walsh returning to action in the near future.
While Voss didn’t provide a definite timeline for Walsh’s return, the midfielder himself expressed optimism, stating, “I’m going well. I had a training session with the boys in rehab today, so I felt half-productive about my day, which was nice.”
I’m optimistic about returning within the next few weeks. Progress is good, but these recoveries require gradual buildup.
“The team is performing quite well at the moment, which is encouraging.”
Following two closely contested matches to start the season, the Blues will have a week off with a Round 2 bye scheduled after their participation in the Opening Round last week.
This break could potentially see injured defender Jacob Weitering return either for Round 3 against North Melbourne on Good Friday or for the Blues’ match against Fremantle in Adelaide for Gather Round.
Weitering has been sidelined since early this year due to a significant calf strain, while fellow defender Caleb Marchbank is expected to be fit for the Blues’ next game after recovering from a recent illness.
Forward Jack Martin has been sidelined at the beginning of the season due to a knee injury, with no specific return date set for the former Suns player, while Jesse Motlop is anticipated to be available to play after the club’s bye as he deals with a toe issue.
Carlton will face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Friday, March 29, in a match that could potentially see the Blues secure three wins from their first three matches for the second time since 2012.
