Sam Walsh doesn’t want to speed up rehabilitation for Carlton Blues after back surgery, return date not certain
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“Standing here now I’d like to say I’ll be fit and firing by this time of year.”
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Brian Cook, who spoke Thursday when Carlton announced a five-year extension to his Hyundai sponsorship, declined to elaborate on whether the Blues had set the Finals as their minimum target this season.
“In our business plan we have indicated that we will win at least one prime ministerial post for both men and women [in the next five years]but the real problem for us is to keep improving every year, both on and off the field,” said Cook.
“The only thing I’ve learned in my long time in football is that you can’t determine how or how much other clubs are improving. You have a good idea of how you could improve, but it takes a bit of a beating when you announce that you’ll be fourth, fifth or sixth. Our goal is to improve.”
Cook said much more energy would also be put into the women’s program in 2023 after an internal review found more full-time staff were needed in the department to develop the players.
Blues co-captain Darcy Vescio said the players were saddened after the sackings of coach Daniel Harford and general manager Brett Munro but the players had also accepted their share of the blame for the underperformance.
Daniel Harford will not coach Carlton in 2023.Credit:AFL photos
“I hope this can be a little fresh start for us in terms of setting better standards for ourselves and for each other,” Vescio said.
“Both ‘Harf’ and ‘Munners’ added so much to the program… [but] I think we all know we need this. But when emotions are involved and people change, people lose their jobs, it’s never nice, especially when you work so closely together.
“I think the review made it clear that we need really high standards and a coach who’s really pushing that level of professionalism, so I think someone who’s relentless in that pursuit will fit in really well with the group.”
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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/timeline-hasn-t-changed-sam-walsh-won-t-rush-rehab-for-back-injury-20230209-p5cj5y.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_sport Sam Walsh doesn’t want to speed up rehabilitation for Carlton Blues after back surgery, return date not certain
