Injured Carlton superstar Sam Walsh has provided an update on his back injury following his club’s Round 1 victory over Richmond.
The Blues ultimately bested the Tigers in a topsy-turvy bout at the MCG on Thursday night, emerging five-point winners after trailing by eight points at the final change.
After downing Brisbane in barnstorming fashion last Friday, Carlton prevailed again without the prolific 23-year-old, who has missed his side’s opening pair of 2024 outings with a worrying back ailment.
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Walsh reported soreness following match simulation in February, with the Blues subsequently ruling the onballer out of their pair of pre-season outings, as well as the first fortnight of the home-and-away season.
Carlton’s most recent update on Walsh’s condition was provided on March 4, with the club stating he was “increasing loads as part of his modified training”, labelling his return ‘indefinite’ and adding there would be no further update until after its Round 2 bye.
However, speaking on the Channel 7 broadcast post-game on Thursday, the 2018 Pick 1 offered insight into the latest developments as he aims for an imminent return to play.
“I had a training session with the boys in rehab, so I felt half-productive about my day today, which was nice,” Walsh said.
“Hopefully (I can return) within the next couple of weeks. It’s tracking well … These things you’ve got to build up.
“The boys are holding it down pretty nicely at the moment, which is good.”
Senior coach Michael Voss responded with a defiant “no” on Thursday evening when quizzed on the potential for Walsh — who has a history of concerning back issues — to undergo surgery.
Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd told SEN the club did not want to succumb to public speculation about their star’s setback, opting against providing constant updates.
“He’s progressing really where we need him to,” began Lloyd to SEN on Thursday.
“So, I know there’s been a bit of commentary (over the last 24 hours), but, yeah, he’s hitting all the markers he needs to, progressing well,” said Lloyd.
“We’ve said all the way through (that we’d) wait until the bye (to provide an update). Because of the nature of the injury, we just don’t want to give that running commentary and have to every week make little adjustments, but he’s actually tracking well.
“We’ll get to the next week, regroup over the bye and start setting some timelines for him. But, I guess for the Carlton supporters out there, we’re really comfortable with where it sits.”
Carlton, sitting 2-0 after a pair of nervy triumphs, will now have said bye before its Good Friday clash with North Melbourne in Round 3.
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