While Sam Walsh didn’t have the start to 2023 that he would’ve liked - missing the first five games due to injury - he certainly finished the season strong, winning the Gary Ayres Best Finals Player award.
Throughout the year, Walsh was his regular, dominant self in the midfield, controlling possession and assisting his teammates with his pinpoint entries into the forward 50, as well as his dynamic work in the contest.
Walsh suffered an injury in pre-season that saw him sidelined until Round 5, playing every game until Round 19, where a hamstring injury saw his second extended stint out of the side.
His limited preparation for the finals series makes his finals success even more impressive, where the 23-year-old gathered 29, 34 and 33 disposals in those three games.
He was the first player to win the award in a maiden finals campaign, adding to his 2019 AFL Rising Star, 2019 AFLPA Best First-Year Player, 2020 AFLCA Best Young Player, 2021 John Nicholls Medal and 2021 All-Australian accolades.
