The former Twin City sharpshooter has set tongues wagging with a series of outstanding performances in his first season with the club’s youth team and Heart hopes Walker can continue his development next year.

“I spent a week in Hawaii two weeks ago with Zac and the whole (youth) team where we played teams like Colorado Rapids, who won the US’s Major League Soccer two years ago,” Munn said yesterday.

“Zac was in the starting team against those boys so he’s proven that he can match it.

“He will continue to work hard.

“He’s going to spend a season in the Victorian Premier League and we look forward to hopefully having Zac back again next year and just like Craig Goodwin who broke into the A-League this year, hopefully Zac will do that in the not too distant future.”

Heart finished the National Youth League in fourth place, defeating Newcastle Jets 3-2 in its final match, with Walker scoring a penalty in the 75th minute.

The former AWFA golden boot winner scored hat-tricks against the Australian Institute of Sport and Brisbane Roar and impressed in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational last month in a Heart youth side that also included former Socceroos star Josip Skoko.

Munn said Heart had high hopes for Walker.

“The most important thing is players developing and Zac has that unique ability to score a lot of goals,” Munn said.

“As you grow and play at the higher levels you need to have the all-round football ability and Zac’s learning that.

“We play a particular brand of football and that means that just being a goal poacher is not enough.

“And Zac’s learning that.

“He’s working hard to improve his open play and you’d say he’s got one of the best strikers in the business coaching him in John Aloisi.”

Meanwhile, Heart is keen to play a pre-season match against A-League opposition on the Border, providing it can find a venue.

Heart played a friendly against a select AWFA side at La Trobe University in Wodonga last year.

Munn said the club could not play on grounds with cricket pitches, ruling out the region’s premier venue, Lavington Oval.

“A couple of things that are vital of importance to us is the pitch, and a pitch that’s good quality.

“We really struggle with cricket pitches.

“It’s a nightmare with (player) insurance more than anything else.”