EXCLUSIVE: Fremantle Dockers forward Michael Walters named Indigenous All Stars captain after stellar career

Fremantle star Michael Walters has joined the pantheon of footy greats to have captained the Indigenous All Stars after being selected as the skipper for Saturday’s clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium. Walters will follow in the footsteps of iconic Indigenous names such as Andrew McLeod, Adam Goodes and Shaun Burgoyne by leading the All Stars against the Dockers. The veteran of 239 games will be supported by vice-captains Jarman Impey, Charlie Cameron and Bradley Hill after being elected by the coaching staff. Walters said he’d always idolised the experienced Indigenous greats who led the way for his generation of players, and following in their footsteps made captaincy an even bigger honour. “Those types of guys are players that I looked up to. So to lead this group is incredible,” Walters told The West Australian. “It gives you butterflies knowing that those type of types of guys are the ones that paved the way for us. Throughout my career, I just wanted to have fun. I wanted to enjoy it. “To captain the boys is a good little feather in the cap, especially over a long career. Something that I’ve always wanted to do is lead the group and to do it for the All Stars is unreal.” Knee surgery during the Christmas break has left Walters on restrictions since the team returned to training and he didn’t play in the Dockers’ intra-club match on Friday. But Walters trained strongly throughout the week and is confident of being cleared to return to action. After being a late withdrawal from the last Indigenous All Stars game due to injury in 2015, Walters said he’d still be running out with the team even if he suffers a setback this week. “Being in the twilight of my career, I’ll play with one leg,” Walters said. “I’ll definitely go out there, even if it’s chuck a jumper on, walk across that white line, just yell out a few things and then run back off. I’ve always wanted to play in this game, and I was going to do everything I could to ensure I did play this game. “But at the same time, we got bigger fish to fry here. I a sense, a pretty strong year, hopefully from the boys, all going well. “I had the knee issue for the whole preseason. And I just thought if I could get through, I could get it done over the Christmas break. “No one plays at 100 per cent and no one trains at 100 per cent. So throughout the years, you know you learn to you learn to play with injuries, you learn to play with soreness, you learn to play with all these little niggles. “But once you declare yourself fit to play, you play.”