BACK in 2018, a 17-year-old Sam Walsh said this to The Age in the months leading up to the 2018 AFL Draft.

"I hold loyalty pretty high, and I'd definitely love to repay the club if they happen to pick me up, so that's something pretty high on my agenda."

Some things don’t change.

Walsh admits that he may have been a bit young and naive when he said that, having never encountered the AFL environment. But that didn’t matter, holding true to his word by signing an eight-year contract extension to stay at Carlton until 2034.

Just like the last time he re-signed, Walsh signed his contact prior to a ball even being bounced - or, more accurately in 2026, thrown upwards - for the season. He was certain that IKON Park is his home.

“I always knew what I wanted to do. To look back on my seven years and how much opportunity and time they’ve given me, hopefully I can repay that with the rest of my career at the Club,” Walsh said.

“It’s nice to have it sorted before the start of the year… it means you can get down to business now.”

Walsh is just one of many who have been energised by the changes at the Club over the off-season, with nine new players, six new coaches and a new Head of Football all leading into the upcoming campaign.

But for the Carlton favourite, that excitement was already taking place last year.

While he underwent his recovery from a foot injury as he desperately tried - and succeeded - to get back before the season was over, Walsh was away from the main group. Alongside him were two first-year players, one who was coming back from his own injury and another who was suspended, and their hunger to improve shone through.

Couple that with the team’s new recruits, and Walsh’s faith in the direction of the Blues couldn’t be clearer.

“At the back end of last year, which was a tough year, I was coming back from injury and doing sessions with ‘Benny Campo’ and Jagga Smith. At the end of it, I mentioned how much they wanted to have success at this club.

“I can see that from the younger boys.

“A lot of the guys we’ve got in have fit into the age demographic just a bit older than me. There’s some guys to look up to there, and I think we’ve already seen just from one practice match how much energy they’re going to bring.”

An Ocean Grove boy originally, Walsh will never forget his roots - but he’s well and truly become indoctrinated in the Carlton way of life now.

The ultimate competitor, his primary focus throughout his next nine years in Navy Blue is evident. Having come into the Club on the back of a two-win season at the end of 2018, Walsh makes no secret of his desire to bring success back to Royal Parade.

“I couldn’t think of anything better than winning something at this club.

“We’ve had some good times and tougher times, but I think that builds the story. There’s a lot ahead for this group.

“Hopefully I can be a big part in keeping a strong culture here, setting up success for the Club in many years to come. I’m a player now and will be a past player one day, but seeing the Club go really well… I’ve had a lot of people on my journey that aren’t here now that are still here. There’s good times to come, and a lot of those people can enjoy that.

“A lot of things go into the decision, but at the end of the day, I was never going to leave.”