Sam Walsh out for a month with hamstring injury as George Hewett defends Carlton’s fitness boss Rob Innes

The Blues new fitness coach has come under fire after Carlton star Sam Walsh was ruled out for a month with a hamstring issue.

Walsh, whose pre-seasons have been plagued by injury, will be “integrated” back into the team’s training program over the next two to three weeks, the club said on Tuesday.

“The injury occurred during training yesterday, with scans confirming the strain,” a statement read.

Former Swans fitness boss Rob Innes took over from Andrew Russell for the 2025 season after the Blues were decimated by injures during their 2024 campaign with several key stars, such as Charlie Curnow, missing at crucial points during the season.

Carlton limped into the finals before being knocked out in the first week of September by eventual flag winners Brisbane.

Walsh has been troubled by ongoing back issues over the past two years and not since 2021 has he played more than 20 games a year.

Former Swan and now Blue George Hewett defended how the Blues squad was handled by its fitness staff.

“I think the medical team has been pretty good with him and the rest of us,” he told the Herald Sun.

“I think Walshy knows his body pretty well now, he managed himself really well in the off-season and came back really fit. Sometimes you just do soft-tissue injuries.

“I think he’d be a bit down, but it’s probably why he’s one of the best players but he’s very good at looking ahead at what’s next.

“I’m sure he’s disappointed from what happened, but four weeks goes pretty fast.”

Walsh said last month he had been working hard to stay injury free in the off-season..

“The biggest thing for me is getting a full pre-season under my belt,” he said.

“I do that by putting in the work and listening to my body, which I have been.

“I want to really get after my power running, which is the way the game’s going.

“A lot of the boys have shown growth in that area and that’s what I’m going after too.”

The vice-captain has established himself as one of Carlton’s most important midfielders alongside skipper Patrick Cripps over 119 games, but only now believes he is reaching his prime.

“My body’s getting to that stage where you’re starting to feel fairly developed and the work you put in throughout those (previous) five or six years compounds,” Walsh said in December.

“I feel I can really get after it and am starting to know my game really well and how that complements the midfield.”

Walsh said the Blues will be driven more by ambition than pressure in 2025, as they seek to end a flag drought that has reached its 30th year.

“As a group I think we are pretty ambitious and those goals will probably stay in-house, but we’ve got to let our footy do the talking,” Walsh said on Wednesday.

“We want to play a powerful brand on the offensive end and defensive end.

“The growth comes from our consistency because we know that’s wavered the past couple of years.

“It’s easy to be feeling fresh now, but how can we emulate that when we’re at round 13-14 and still bring that same energy?”