Overview

• Cody Walker confirmed he will nominate for Carlton under the father-son rule in the 2026 AFL draft.
• The 17-year-old was also eligible for Richmond’s Next Generation Academy but opted to follow in his father Andrew’s footsteps after his 13-year career at Carlton.
• Walker averaged 23.5 disposals and kicked six goals across eight Coates Talent League games and was best-on-ground for Vic Country in the national championships.
• Coach Michael Voss publicly called on the AFL to safeguard the father-son concession as a longstanding tradition in player recruitment.
• Rival clubs have raised concerns that legacy pathways like father-son access can skew competitive balance in the draft system.