03-07-2025
Sonny's time: Charting Docker's great AFL journey
Swapping Optus Stadium for the newsroom of The West Australian, Walyalup (Fremantle) legend Michael Walters has taken over the newspaper's sports section for a day.
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.
