Henry Walsh weighs up football future after being overlooked in AFL draft

Walsh told The Standard he was was weighing up his options after he was overlooked in the draft period.

He planned to train with Geelong league club St Joseph's on Wednesday night. He has spent time working on farms in the south-west recently.

"I'll wait until the end of January and make a call on where I will play," Walsh said.

"I am weighing up everything at the moment, just wait and see what the best thing is for my footy.

"If I am working down there that could be an option but we'll just have to wait and see what I choose to do."

Walsh said he was coming to terms with the draft.

"It is a bit devastating I didn't get picked but I knew going into it not many talls get their names read out each year," he said.

"I'll have a break for a bit and work out what I want to do."

Walsh is the son of former Cobden premiership player Wayne.

Courtney said the Bombers "were not actively pursing" the teenager.

"Henry has to make a decision with his family that is best for his football," he said.

"If he decides he still wants to have a crack at (getting to) AFL level and goes and plays Geelong Falcons, then we'll wish him all the best.

"On the other hand, if he wants to come and work in the area and play for Cobden, we're going to be more than happy to welcome him with open arms.

"He is the son of a very passionate Cobden person who coached the club and played in premierships."

The Bombers have a strong ruck division forming headed by Toby Hawkins.

Brothers Sam and Matt Clarke and Ben Berry have impressed on the pre-season training track.

"It's Benny's first year of senior football and he's probably put on four or five kilos over the last eight months in muscle," Courtney said.

"He's hit the gym hard, he knew as a big bloke who was going to play ruck or key position, that he had to put on a bit of weight.

"He's got a lot of football talent and now he's maturing into his body.

Patrick Smith - Walsh's cousin - is setting the tone on the track too and is expected to play midfield minutes.

"He's had a couple of injury-interrupted couple of seasons and he's only 19," Courtney said.

"He's looking unbelievably fit at the moment. He loves his fitness. He works really hard on it. He's an inside midfielder but he can also spread from the contest really well. He loves getting in there and putting pressure on."

Matty Kemp has overcome injury to be one of those to stake a claim and experienced trio Jack Hutt, Paul Pekin and Tom Spokes are performing well.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.