Sam Walsh was the centrepiece of Carlton’s last painstaking rebuild. His decision to stay has spared the Blues another period in the doldrums.

The importance of Walsh’s commitment to Carlton cannot be understated. The doomsday scenario at Ikon Park would have included Walsh, their best middle-aged midfielder, joining close mates Charlie Curnow and Tom De Koning and former favourite son Jack Silvagni out the door.

Sam Walsh has re-signed until the end of 2034 at Carlton.Credit: The Age

The length of the term, until the end of 2034 when Walsh will be 34, is a risk for the club, as the player himself acknowledged, but this was the price of doing business. Either stump up – in this case in terms of tenure – or leave yourself open to a rival whisking him away on a lengthy deal.

The trend towards long-term contracts to star players is recognition that the cost of keeping them exceeds that of letting them go. When things go pear-shaped, as they did with Curnow and at Melbourne with Christian Petracca, the club is at least better placed to negotiate an advantageous trade.

If Curnow’s exit signalled a “reset” at Carlton, as Blues chief Graham Wright said this week, Walsh’s departure would have heralded another rebuild.

Key defender Jacob Weitering aside, Walsh is just about the most important player on the Blues’ list. At 25, Walsh should be entering his prime years. With his running capacity, he is arguably the only established Blues midfielder equipped physically to deal with the aerobic demands of the game as it is expected to be played in 2026.

Sam Walsh has recommitted to the Blues.Credit: Ruby Alexander

A Carlton without Walsh would have slammed the door shut on a list build that promised so much but delivered no more than half a season of joy in 2023.

By staying, there is a runway for the likes of Weitering and key forward Harry McKay to have a crack at a drought-breaking premiership late in their careers.

© The Sydney Morning Herald