Carlton secure midfielder Sam Walsh on eight-year contract

In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:

Carlton and Sam Walsh agree to long-term deal.

Lions relaxed about Bailey’s contract uncertainty.

Carlton star Sam Walsh has turned his back on free agency by signing the longest deal in the club’s history.

On Tuesday morning the Blues told members of the blockbuster deal, which ties their joint vice-captain to the club until the end of 2034.

With Walsh locked away by the Blues, Gold Coast forward Ben King, Port Adelaide star Zak Butters and Brisbane forward Zac Bailey are now the three biggest names remaining in this year’s pool of free agents.

Walsh’s signature is a massive fillip for the Blues after a wretched 2025 campaign that ended with superstar forward Charlie Curnow packing his bags for Sydney and ruckman Tom De Koning and third-generation Blue Jack Silvagni leaving to St Kilda via free agency.

It comes as the Blues embark on what senior figures at the club have described as a reset and cultural change in the final year of coach Michael Voss’ contract.

Walsh, star defender Jacob Weitering and spearhead Harry McKay are the three big names remaining at Ikon Park from the deep rebuild of 2015-18 overseen by former list boss Stephen Silvagni, who is now in that role with the Saints.

There are high hopes this year for Walsh, who has, thus far, enjoyed his first uninterrupted summer since his career-best season in 2021 when he finished fourth in the Brownlow and was named All-Australian.

His commitment gives the Blues the opportunity to build a next-generation midfield around him, the uncapped Jagga Smith and exciting father-son prospect Cody Walker, who is eligible for this year’s draft.

“I love this club. I am a Carlton person and I couldn’t be happier to continue my career here,” Walsh said.

“This was obviously a big decision for me, but it was made so much easier because I know we are heading in the right direction. I make no secret of the fact that I want to win, and I want to win with the Carlton monogram on my chest.

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“I truly believe that the key people we have here, and where our group is at right now, we are seeing a significant shift as we head into this next period of our football club, one that I know is going to be really exciting to be part of.

“When I arrived, our club was last on the ladder. Footy isn’t a linear experience, everyone knows that, but I am all in on the next eight years and doing everything I can to help us reach the top and stay there – the day we do will mean everything to me.”

Walsh’s retention is being framed as a “huge coup” by the Blues, whose premiership drought ticked over to 30 years last season. The No.1 pick from the 2018 draft, Walsh has played just four finals in seven years though stamped himself as a big-game player by winning the Gary Ayres Medal for the best player in the 2023 finals series.

“Sam embodies everything we value at Carlton: elite standards, humility and a relentless drive to improve,” Austin said.

“To get his signature before the AFL season even starts perfectly sums up the type of player and person he is, and the type of environment we want to be building where our people believe in what they are helping create.”

Bailey’s contract won’t distract Lions, skipper vows

Jon Pierik

Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews has declared the Lions are confident of retaining Zac Bailey, and insist the star goalkicker’s uncertain contract status will not disrupt their bid for premiership three-peat.

Dual premiership player Bailey, 26, is one of the competition’s most coveted free agents and, as reported by this masthead, has several Victorian clubs, including Essendon and Collingwood, hoping to extricate him from the league’s most dominant team.

The Lions have offered Bailey a six-year extension. Industry sources wishing to remain anonymous to speak freely suggest Bailey could command more than $1.2 million in the open market.

Andrews said the Lions were confident of retaining the man who booted 42 goals last year.

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“Yeah, yeah, absolutely, definitely so. He is an integral part of what we have been able to achieve thus far, and it’s been awesome to see his development. Since he arrived at the club, he has come a long way. He has still a bit to go,” Andrews told this masthead.

Bailey’s manager Anthony McConville, of Mac’s Sports, said discussions remained ongoing.

Andrews said the Lions – and Bailey – remained focused on setting themselves up for another deep finals run in 2026.

“He is, obviously, a man in demand. We have gone through this the last couple of years with some guys [Hugh McCluggage, Cam Rayner and Callum Ah Chee]. There is, obviously, a little bit of interest in some of our guys, particularly our high performers,” Andrews said.

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“We just do what we always do with our players – make them feel comfortable, acknowledge their contributions to our team and, ultimately, try and get them to stay.

“There is going to be a lot of media around him, but he is a great teammate, someone that is super locked in on us as a team, and really motivated to end up where we want to.”

Bailey remains integral to the Lions premiership hopes. He booted 3.6 in a dominant grand final, and began the new campaign last week with three goals in match simulation against Carlton.

“He is such a good footballer. His ability to impact in and around the midfield and also ahead of the ball. He gets on the scoreboard which is great,” Andrews said.

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