His coach David Teague was full of praise after the game,marvelling at how Walsh had inspired an undermanned midfield,with players such as Paddy Dow,Zac Fisher,Matt Kennedy and Sam Petrevski-Seton,who aren’t usually walk up starts in Carlton’s engine room.

“He just wills his way ... and it’s his turn to own this Carlton Football Club,along with his teammates at the moment,and create what they want to create.

“I thought it was one of our better performances,and Sam led that.”

As both a player and a coach Teague has had a close-up view of some of the game’s hardest workers in recent times;think,for example,Brent Harvey,Anthony Koutoufides,Matt Priddis,Nick Riewoldt,Lenny Hayes,and Scott Thompson.

None,according to Teague,can top Walsh.

“His work rate is never questioned,” Teague said.

“He works as hard as any player that I have been involved with,and that is not just game day,that is throughout the week to prepare himself and from a recovery point of view.”

That “work” has clearly been more than physical. Walsh came into the AFL with an elite ability to run and showed that from the very moment he stepped foot on the MCG against Richmond in round one,2019.

But because he was the no.1 pick and had the lofty reputation that comes with it,every aspect of his game has been scrutinised.

That notably happened in round two of 2020when the Blues lost by a point to Melbourne. After a gut-busting run up a wing to receive the ball,Walsh twice executed poor kicks going inside 50 with only seconds to play. Better kicks,and his team might have ended with a set shot for goal and the win.

But fast forward to what he did at the MCG on Sunday and there is a striking improvement. The way he caressed the ball around the ground by foot (and did all the running,marking and contested work as well) was vital as the rest of his side battled to work cleanly with the ball.

In 2014 Judd said Carlton needed more“obsessive and really driven” players to be successful.

In Walsh they have the perfect man to lead such a push.