Tuesday 8 February 2011
Broadbeach will receive a huge mid-season kick-along when star WAFL midfielder Rory Walton joins the Cats.
Walton, 25, has played 102 games for Claremont in the WAFL but is a keen overseas traveller and will spend the latter part of 2011 in Queensland following another world trip.
He is expected to join Broadbeach in May, adding to a list of recruits that already includes crowd-pleasing forward Jason Eagle and the electric Rhan Hooper.
Walton collected 51 possessions across the WAFL second semi and grand finals last year, finishing with an average 23 touches per game for the 2010 season.
A tough and consistent ballwinner since debuting in 2004, Walton has finished high in Claremont’s best and fairest voting almost every season and played in four losing grand finals.
He took the whole of the 2008 season off to travel overseas to the United States, Mexico and Europe, although it was India that won him over the most and he stayed to study yoga and meditation. He returned over pre-season going into 2010.
That meant it took him until Round 8 to earn his spot in the league side again, but he hit the ground running with 31 possessions on return.
“I went back to India…and then I went to Malaysia, Thailand, Lao and Vietnam,” Walton told wafl.com.au. “It really keeps things in perspective, we’ve got so many opportunities here, and even having the option to play football is a real privilege.
“Over there they don’t have a lot but they appreciate what they do have more, so that’s what I get out of it.”
Since discovering India, Walton has learned to enjoy his football even more and is now also set on what he wants to do career-wise.
He studied nutrition and dietetics last winter and is keen to be involved in the holistic-nutrition-dietetics-personal training areas.
His presence alongside the brilliant Dayne Zorko, Hooper, Jesse Derrick, and the Rolfe brothers will give the Cats plenty of zip in the inaugural North East AFL season.
