Albury sign key forward Mat Walker on three-year deal

Walker has committed to a three-year deal at Tigerland in an early statement the league powerhouse is hell-bent on returning as the premier side in the competition.

The 23-year-old played with Williamstown this season and had two appearances in the yellow and black when free of VFL commitments.

He played consecutive matches against North Albury and Myrtleford in rounds 11 and 12 booting three goals against the Saints.

Walker played seven matches earlier in the season with Williamstown but didn't play again after his three goal performance against Myrtleford.

The ex-CDHBU junior is relishing the prospect of what will be his first proper crack at Ovens and Murray football.

"I'm stoked," Walker said.

"Albury is the club I've been associated with for the last few years and I won a flag with them in 2018.

"I can't wait to get stuck into it with them and be there full-time with them.

"I've got to experience quite a bit in my career and I feel like I'm only young yet so I've got a lot more still to give and probably my best footy is ahead of me.

"To be able to do that at Albury is going to be pretty special.

"I feel like I'm not taking too big of a step back.

"The Ovens and Murray and the Albury footy club are pretty professional.

"For me, it's getting back to really enjoying my footy and playing with a bunch of blokes that are just out there to win."

In an unusual circumstance, Walker made his senior debut for Albury in the 2018 grand final victory over Wangaratta before being picked up by the Hawks with pick 63 in the 2018 AFL draft.

However, Walker struggled with injury during his brief stint at the elite level and failed to play a senior match at Hawthorn before being delisted at the end of 2020.

The 188cm, 85kg forward then spent two seasons with North Melbourne in the VFL and played 18 matches before crossing to rival club Williamstown this year.

The Tigers will be hoping Walker can put his injury woes behind him and prove to be another reliable avenue to goal alongside spearhead Jacob Conlan.

Conlan booted 51 goals for the Tigers this season from 17 matches.

Walker was among the 10,000-strong crowd at Sunday's O&M grand final and Albury co-coach Shaun Daly was delighted to clinch his signature in the wake of the four-point defeat to Yarrawonga.

"Mat is a ripping person firstly," Daly said.

"Me and Chris Hyde debuted him in 2018 when he played in the premiership so it's great to have him back.

"Every chance he got, this year, to come back, he loved the opportunity to play at Albury.

"We were hoping that he'd come back at some stage but to have him for the next three years is huge for the club.

"Especially for some of our younger forwards, he's got a lot of experience and he's pretty keen to help some of those guys develop as well."

Walker gave a glimpse of his potential in the O&M in two appearances for the Tigers in 2022.

He booted five goals against Wodonga and six against Lavington.

Walker has now played five matches at the Albury Sportsground and attracted three points under the player points system this season.

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