Sonny's time: Charting Docker's great AFL journey
Michael Walters retires as one of the finest players ever to pull on the Fremantle guernsey. The West Australian looks back at his journey from draftee to fan favourite.
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. Michael Walters in action during the 2008 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships at Telstra Dome in Melbourne. Credit: Lachlan Cunningham / GSP Images
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. Docker Michael Walters celebrates a goal during the AFL Round 12 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Geelong Cats at Subiaco. Credit: Daniel Wilkins / The Slattery Media Group
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. Michael Walters of Fremantle takes a spectacular mark during the 2013 Toyota Grand Final match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG, Melbourne on September 28, 2013. (Photo: Sean Garnsworthy/AFL Media) Credit: Sean Garnsworthy / AFL Media
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. Michael Walters of the Dockers takes a spectacular mark. Credit: Michael Willson / AFL Media
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. Michael Walters of the Indigenous All Stars celebrates a goal. Credit: Dylan Burns / AFL Photos
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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