Michael Walters: Five moments to remember as Fremantle Dockers small forward retires
From his freakish ability to find the big sticks from impossible angles to sheer displays of football brilliance and determination.
The small forward is the Dockers' Indigenous games record holder with 239 across 17 seasons in purple before the veteran called time on his illustrious career on Thursday.
The West Australian reflects on five of Walters' most unforgettable moments and achievements.
There's no proving ground quite like finals footy: the tension, the aggression and the deafening noise of fans.
Getting to an AFL grand final is no mean feat, and Walters would not be denied in the 2013 preliminary final against Sydney.
Fremantle were on song from the start, leading at every change as the forward line worked as a pack.
Walters' scintillating efforts resulted in three majors across the day, but he could have had a bag of five, missing two shots to go with 14 touches.
If you asked Dockers fans who they wanted kicking for a match-winning or sealing goal across the last 15 years, almost all of them would have called for Walters to don his cape.
And in 2022, with a top-four berth on the line in the final game of the home-and-away season, as well as in his 200th just to add a cherry, he showed exactly why.
Tackling a potent GWS at Manuka Oval in Canberra, the Dockers held a tenours two-goal lead with five minutes to play.
As the action ramped up, the Dockers escaped pressure and linked up through the middle before a handball found Walters in the forward 50. The only problem? He was facing the wrong direction.
However, his fleet feet quickly turned him back to goal, gave him three steps to steady, and the veteran made no mistake, icing victory and top four in his milestone match.
Walters reached six goals in a game twice, but it was the second of those efforts that left lasting scars on Port Adelaide and impressions on the purple army.
Trailing by a point at the final change of the round 13 clash in 2019, the Dockers needed one of their stars to stand up, and the small forward answered the call.
Fremantle kicked three goals to nothing in the final term as Walters ran rampant, collecting 25 disposals, four tackles, five clearances and 11 contested possessions to go with his majors, helping the Dockers to victory.
Walters kicked plenty of special goals in his bag of 365. But one in 2023 was very unlucky not to be named goal of the year.
Tackling Brisbane at the Gabba, the play looked dead as Walters was wrapped up by Harris Andrews. However, the Lions stopper made the fatal error of slinging the Dockers forward away.
Despite landing on his stomach, Walters bounced to his feet, sidestepped onto his left and dribbled the ball through the goals from the acutest of pocket angles - all while a second tackle was laid.
Walters arguably reached the peak of his powers in 2019. He kicked 40 goals to earn his fifth leading goal kicker award at Fremantle, and he earned life membership.
However, the sure sign of his value and remarkable efforts was his All-Australian call-up.
The livewire forward was finally recognised by the league for his outstanding achievements, donning his blazer alongside the rest of the game's elite, including teammate Nat Fyfe.
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The 36-year-old Smith only rejoined the Aussie Test squad last Sunday after dislocating his right little finger during the recent World Test Championship final at Lord's. But brought in at No.4 to replace Josh Inglis, the loss of the Australian batting talisman so cheaply was another huge boost to the home team. Travis Head (14 no) did well to stop the rot as he tried to maintain the visitors' relatively quick scoring rate. But Australia were hit with another sucker punch in the last ball before lunch when Cameron Green was out for 26. The West Australian was caught chasing a Jayden Seales delivery by Windies skipper Roston Chase at gully, just as he was finding his groove. Following a 20-minute rain delay after lunch, Head was the next Australian player to go when he gloved a Shamar Joseph ball which was taken well by Hope to his left. But Carey - backing up his swashbuckling 65 in the second innings of the first Test in Barbados, and Webster (43 off 70 balls), have produced their defiant stand at just the right moment on improving pitch conditions.
