The young 20-year-old, Josh Walker, joined the big Cats for the first time this year on Saturday, where he added a goal to Geelong’s 25-point win against Port Adelaide in the third quarter.  

This time Cats’ veteran, James Podsiadly, took hold of the mic and interviewed the young ruckman/forward on Cats TV to encapsulate his first game back for the season.

Walker, who returned to the big stage to play his eighth senior game, told Podsiadly that he enjoyed every minute of being back, aside from the fourth quarter where things started to get a little shaky.

“It was good to finally get back out there, apart from that last bit of the game, I thoroughly enjoyed it and in the end we got the win, which makes it great, but we’ve definitely got stuff to work on as well,” Walker said.

Walker debuted last year in Round 16 against Collingwood where he claimed nine disposals, four tackles and four marks. Saturday Walker equaled his career best of 12 disposals, one goal and four marks against Port at Simonds Stadium.

Podsiadly, who was pleased to have Walker back on their side, asked him how he found the transition coming from the twos into the ones for the first time this season.

“It definitely was a step up and it probably didn’t help that they’re pretty fit and I think all the boys were feeling the pinch late in the game but even that role playing a bit of ruck and forward work I found myself chasing a lot, but hopefully I can string a few games together and the fitness will kick in,” Walker explained.  

Next week the Cats will fly to Perth to take on the Eagles for the first time since this year’s pre-season match. Walker looks forward to taking on his biggest career challenge so far, when he comes face-to-face with the tallest ruck in the West, Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.

“I don’t think there’s a bigger challenge for a young ruckman than playing against those two players,” Walker said.