Michael Walters: Timeline of Fremantle great's career from a goal on debut to finishing against the Dockers
7 January 1991 - Michael Walters is born, growing up on the same street in Midvale as fellow AFL draftees Nic Naitanui and Chris Yarran.
August 2007 - Wins the Kevin Sheehan Medal (tied with Tom Scully) after kicking 10 goals in three games for WA in the under-16 Championships.
11 July 2008 - Named in the under-18 All-Australian team, having excelled as both a midfielder and a forward.
9 August 2008 - Makes his league WAFL debut against West Perth in a six-point loss.
29 November 2008 - Drafted after just two league WAFL games with pick 53 by Fremantle Dockers.
6 June 2009 - Makes his AFL debut against Port Adelaide, kicking his first goal along with 14 disposals.
4 September 2010 - Plays his first final, kicking a goal as Fremantle defeat Hawthorn.
19 September 2010 - Kicks a goal as Swan Districts triumph by one point over Claremont to win their first flag in 20 years.
January 2012 - Is banished to the WAFL after failing a skin fold test and told to improve his fitness.
14 July 2012 - Returns in round 16, kicking three goals in a win over the Saints, playing every game for the rest of the season.
10 September 2013 - Named in the inaugural 22 under 22 team.
21 September 2013 - Kicks three goals as Fremantle reach their first-ever grand final against Hawthorn.
28 September 2013 - Kicks two goals from 11 touches in a losing grand final effort to finish with 46 goals from his 21 games and be the club's leading goal kicker.
13 September 2014 - Reaches 50th game, kicking 3.3 in a losing semifinal against Port Adelaide.
25 September 2015 - Kicks three goals in the preliminary final, taking his tally to 44 goals from 22, to again be the club's leading goal kicker.
28 August 2016 - Wins a second-straight club goal-kicking award with 36 from 22 games.
14 May 2017 - Records a career best 38 touches against Richmond.
2 July 2017 - Kicks a career best 6.2 against St Kilda, but the Dockers fall short by nine points.
29 April 2017 - Reaches game 100 but goes goalless in a derby against West Coast.
18 August 2018 - Finishes as the club's leading goal kicker for a fourth time with 22 goals from 18 games.
28 August 2019 - Claims a fifth leading goalkicking award with 40 goals and earns an All-Australian blazer named in the forward line and is made a life member of the club.
11 June 2022 - Kicks 300th goal as the Dockers beat Hawthorn by 13 points.
20 August 2022 - Celebrates game 200 with a win over GWS, kicking three goals and sealing a top-four finish.
25 August 2024 - Plays his final game as a Docker, kicking a behind with four disposals after coming on as a sub in the last round of the season.
8 February 2025 - Selected as the Indigenous All Stars captain
15 February 2025 - Kicks his last goal, against Fremantle, as the All Stars win by 43 points.
3 July 2025 - Announces immediate retirement with knee issues bringing his career to a close at 239 games and 365 goals.
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Tough morning for Australian top order in second Test
Australia's top order – including returning star batsman Steve Smith - have been punished by some deadly West Indies pace bowling as they limped to 4-93 at lunch on day one of the second Test in Grenada. Captain Pat Cummins chose to insert his side at the island nation's National Stadium on Thursday (Friday AEST), with Australia hunting a series-clinching victory. But after making a positive start in St George's, at a ground where they've never before played a Test match, the tourists were soon in trouble, losing openers Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas in the space of five balls. Khawaja, who with his second run of the match, had earlier become the 16th Australian to pass 6000 Test runs, was trapped lbw by Alzarri Joseph and was given out on review for 16. Konstas soon followed for 25, when he edged to West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope attempting to drive Anderson Phillip, who is playing his first Test since 2022. And things took a turn for the worse when the returning Smith was caught by Phillip on the fine leg boundary off the top edge for three after attempting to take the attack to Joseph. 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. It left the visitors with four wickets down and all to do in the remaining two sessions of the day. Australia's top order – including returning star batsman Steve Smith - have been punished by some deadly West Indies pace bowling as they limped to 4-93 at lunch on day one of the second Test in Grenada. Captain Pat Cummins chose to insert his side at the island nation's National Stadium on Thursday (Friday AEST), with Australia hunting a series-clinching victory. But after making a positive start in St George's, at a ground where they've never before played a Test match, the tourists were soon in trouble, losing openers Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas in the space of five balls. Khawaja, who with his second run of the match, had earlier become the 16th Australian to pass 6000 Test runs, was trapped lbw by Alzarri Joseph and was given out on review for 16. Konstas soon followed for 25, when he edged to West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope attempting to drive Anderson Phillip, who is playing his first Test since 2022. And things took a turn for the worse when the returning Smith was caught by Phillip on the fine leg boundary off the top edge for three after attempting to take the attack to Joseph. 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. It left the visitors with four wickets down and all to do in the remaining two sessions of the day. Australia's top order – including returning star batsman Steve Smith - have been punished by some deadly West Indies pace bowling as they limped to 4-93 at lunch on day one of the second Test in Grenada. Captain Pat Cummins chose to insert his side at the island nation's National Stadium on Thursday (Friday AEST), with Australia hunting a series-clinching victory. But after making a positive start in St George's, at a ground where they've never before played a Test match, the tourists were soon in trouble, losing openers Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas in the space of five balls. Khawaja, who with his second run of the match, had earlier become the 16th Australian to pass 6000 Test runs, was trapped lbw by Alzarri Joseph and was given out on review for 16. Konstas soon followed for 25, when he edged to West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope attempting to drive Anderson Phillip, who is playing his first Test since 2022. And things took a turn for the worse when the returning Smith was caught by Phillip on the fine leg boundary off the top edge for three after attempting to take the attack to Joseph. 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. It left the visitors with four wickets down and all to do in the remaining two sessions of the day.
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
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'Let me drink from that cup': Walters has last request
Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards. Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards. Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
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Pagan revs up North in pre-game centenary ceremony
North Melbourne were served a vintage Denis Pagan rev-up to steel them for their AFL centenary celebration match. After the controversy over the last few days about how past greats were to be honoured, the Kangaroos put on an impressive pre-game ceremony on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium before playing the Western Bulldogs. Pagan, the two-time North premiership coach renowned for his tough love, had one of the key roles in the pre-match and he did not disappoint. Past greats joined the current players in forming a circle around Pagan on the ground, a couple of minutes before the first bounce, for his pre-match speech. Pagan made his thoughts clear about last week's 85-point loss to Hawthorn. "No-one intimidated us - we had a mantra, war without weapons," the 1996 and '99 premiership coach said of his teams, who won the club's most recent flags. "Everyone who ran out put his body on the line. "I want to see you blokes do that tonight. I had a look at Hawthorn last week ... a lot of you blokes have got a bit to answer for. "You make sure you're hard at the ball, you're hard at the man with the ball, you tackle and chase, you put pressure on your opponent - no daydreaming, just go for it and give it your best shot." Pagan's passionate two-minute speech went through club history, from the barren early days in the AFL through to the breakthrough 1970s premierships and then to the '90s. He noted in the early days, North were usually "hit from pillar to post". "They were able to get up off the canvas and come to fight again - probably a little bit similar to what you blokes have to do tonight," Pagan added. "You have to take a page out of their book." Earlier, as part of the parade of club greats, Pagan joined Wayne Carey in walking out onto the ground with the '99 premiership cup. Likewise, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Keith Greig ('75), David Dench and Malcolm Blight ('77) and Glenn Archer and Shannon Grant ('99) brought out their AFL premiership hardware. Coach Darren Crocker and Emma Kearney carried onto the ground last year's AFLW premiership cup. Sam Kekovich and John Burns, who played in the '75 premiership team, were controversial no-shows as expected. They were reportedly discontent with the fact their premiership was not to be recognised in a separate capacity - and also that the ceremony recognised the AFLW flag. Earlier on Friday, former AFL player Brendan Fevola said former players boycotting the ceremony were "absolute losers", noting Crocker also played in North's '96 premiership team. But two other notable inclusions in the pre-game ceremony were legendary former players Phil and Jim Krakouer, who represented the club's Indigenous heritage. The Krakouers are involved in a class action against the AFL for allegedly failing to protect players from on-field racial abuse.
