PHILLIP Island 19 year old Zac Walker won’t have to change his footy jumper next week when he heads up to the big smoke to take up his 2025 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft position with the Western Bulldogs.
The lifetime Western Bulldogs fan and Phillip Island Bulldogs player was taken Pick 12 in a mid-season opportunity that only gave a total of 18 players a place on an AFL list.
Zac Walker, who played 21 senior Phillip Island games last year and five under 18 games, was cut from the Gippsland Power list last year but worked hard to return to Gippy Power this year, as an overage player and attracted the interest of AFL clubs.
Now he’s on the Western Bulldogs list, getting a call from the club’s coach Luke Beveridge on Wednesday night, May 28, welcoming him to the club.
Speaking on ABC Gippsland Radio on Thursday morning, Walker said the news was pretty amazing but hadn’t quite had time to sink in yet.
“I'm still pinching myself. I was pretty lost for words at that time. I don't think it's really fully sunk in yet, but I'm sure over the next couple of days it will,” said Zac Walker this morning.
Asked by the ABC’s presenter Mim Hook where he was when he heard he news, Zac said with a big group of friends, hopeful of hearing the announcement.
“I was with a great mentor of mine, Scotty Huther, and I had a few mates over, just in case the best case scenario happened. And yeah, it did happen.”
Asked about the life-changing moment, moving into being a full-time, professional footballer, Zac described what he’s been up to since leaving school.
Yes, I was working at the San Remo Hotel over summer holidays. That kept me busy for a while, and then after school started, I got a job at Newhaven College on a sports traineeship.
“So, I’ve just been doing that, just working in the office that but I'm sure things are about to change drastically. Yeah, I can't believe it.”
Has it been your dream to be an AFL footballer, asked Mim.
“Yeah. I think, if you asked me when I was one years old, I would have told you I wanted to be a footballer. It's been my dream ever since, yeah, ever since I could remember,” said Zac.
And he’s worked very hard to get his chance.
“Just hours and hours of this, not only in the gym and running, but just working on my kicking, just working on my craft is 24/7. That's all I really think about outside of outside of work. And when I'm not at work, I always think about what I could be doing and what I should be doing. And, yeah, it keeps me busy, and I just love every bit of it,” he said.
“I'm sorry, but it hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm sure it will.”
And what about the chance to play for the team you and your family already support?
“They're pretty ecstatic at the moment, yeah, everyone's still trying to let it sink in, but yeah, it's crazy. The support from everyone has been crazy. It's been insane.”
What do you do now?
Yeah, well, actually the first person to ring me was Luke Beveridge from the Bulldogs which was pretty insane. But yeah, I think I go off on Monday. It's my first day, so I get a couple of days just to relax and get my mind settled, and then yeah, and it's all go from there.”
Zack also reflected on his rocky road to the big time.
“Well, I actually haven't had the smoothest run to being on an AFL list. I only played my first Gippy Power game this year as an overage player. So, I got cut last year, and then the year before, I was on the development list. But yeah, I guess that has really helped me and to strengthen my mind, knowing that if I just keep my head down and keep patient and just keep trying that way that things will happen. And yeah, it's been about doing my training and keeping at it.”
Walker, 19, has averaged 14.8 disposals and 6.5 marks for Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League this season.
The Western Bulldogs website has already announced the youngsters’ arrival.
“A childhood Bulldogs supporter, he is an impressive intercept defender and reads the ball well in the air.”
Speaking on the defenders' addition to the team Western Bulldogs’ Player Acquisition and Strategy Manager, Michael Regan, commended Walker's resolution to overcome setbacks and find himself in a position to join an AFL club.
“Zac’s a really exciting, raw prospect from Gippsland Power," Regan said
“He’s done it the hard way.
"He was actually cut from Gippsland as a 17-year-old but, got to work on himself with his family and friends down at Phillip Island Football Club - who put a lot of work into him, and at Gippsland Power who have done the same over pre-season."
Similarly to the Bulldogs' other Mid-Season Rookie Draft selection in Michael Sellwood, Walker is seen as a strong, fast and athletic rebounding defender who will add more depth to the team's backline.
“Another really raw, intercepting defender with some great athletic traits," Regan said
“At 191cm he adds another layer to our defensive mix as well.”
Zac Walker’s player profile: Height: 191cm. DOB: 03/03/2006. State-league club Gippsland Power (Coates Talent League). Position: Defender.