Ryan Daniels: Why retiring Fremantle great Michael Walters will go down as one of most-loved Dockers

Some sporting careers read more like a Hollywood movie script than others. A kid from the tough part of town, talent to burn, obstacles to overcome. He grows up on a suburban street with his two mates - the kids get into some trouble, but not enough to ruin it all – they band together, and footy becomes their safe place. In some sort of miracle, all three get drafted into the AFL, in the same year. Seventeen years later, that kid, still smiling – always smiling – hangs up the boots, having impacted the game in a way not many ever will. Not every player is created equal. Michael Walters had exquisite skills, game sense and a feel for the moment which can’t be taught. He has fun. Watching him, you got the feeling he was at his happiest when out there – he could’ve been running around at Bassendean, or Bushby St in Midvale – and been just as happy. He joins a long line of Fremantle favourites to leave this game without a premiership. If he could’ve held on for another year or two, who knows. But it’s time. He knew. And there’s been no stone left unturned on a career that lasted almost two decades - but could’ve ended before it began. In 2012, Ross Lyon famously sent an unfit, half-committed Walters back to Swan Districts. He had two options – pack it in, hit the beers, become a ‘what might’ve been’ story – or … get to work. We’re all better off he chose the latter. It’s impossible to quantify the impact he’s had on kids from Midland and Midvale. Life isn’t always easy out there. There’s obstacles you don’t see in Floreat, Cottesloe or Claremont. It’s less about where to park your boat, more where to get your next meal. At his retirement media conference, Walters spoke of that place, of his connection. “Everyone thinks it’s a bad area, but for me it’s one of the safest places to go back to,” he said. And he went back a lot. Walters has continued to train at Wally Bates, a local Midland institution. He made the ‘M’ signal after goals in recent years, for Midland. He showed thousands of kids what’s possible. His final game, fittingly, was as captain of the Indigenous All Stars. One of the great honours of his career. The Dockers have the strongest history with First Nations footballers in the entire AFL. In all bar two games in their existence, the Dockers have had at least one Indigenous player in the side. Remarkable. That doesn’t happen without Walters. You see him with Shai Bolton, with Isaiah Dudley. Before them, with Liam Henry. Plenty more too. He’s a leader, a role model. And he loves it. You aren’t supposed to have favourites as a journalist – but Sonny was one of mine. For the way he played, for the way he interacted with fans – for his fun and considerate nature when it came to dealing with media. Some players hate dealing with cameras, with questions – not Son Son. He was born for the stage. I’ll miss watching him thread the needle from the pocket, from being boundary side and hearing the chatter – the yapping, the feedback, the trash-talk – Sonny’s vocal cords have been the soundtrack to Fremantle training sessions for nearly two decades. But I won’t miss seeing him around footy – because I doubt he’ll be going anywhere. A media career, a coaching/development career, community role – some combination of all three – Michael Walters won’t be lost to the game, because he’s made such a connection to so many. In 2019 he put together an outstanding season, earning him an All-Australian jacket. He kicked 40 goals from 22 games, averaged a shade under 22 disposals. His 379 goals place him second all-time on the Dockers list. His 239 games places him seventh – but those are just numbers. Sonny was about so much more than numbers. He’s the purple army’s favourite. This week I messaged a bunch of Dockers-supporting mates in my phone – asking the most beloved Freo players of all-time. They all singled out Sonny. Hayden Ballantyne was cherished, David Mundy adored, Matthew Pavlich and Nat Fyfe idolised – but Sonny, he’s loved. For his highlights, his attitude, his swagger, the fact he gave a damn every time he stepped out there. Most of all, because of the one word that describes his career, his personality best. Joy.