The full forward is chasing 1000 goals for his club in the AFL Cairns competition and had kicked four of the eight needed at Griffiths park before spending the final term on the bench, legs wrapped in ice packs, with a hamstring injury. Until that point Saints were right in it, but they faded fast to lose 21.4 (130) 15.8 (98).
Hopeful its just a minor strain, Walsh will have it checked and is keen to take to the field on Saturday against North Cairns and notch what would be an incredible acheivement.
"Ill be doing everything I can to get up for this weekend and fingers crossed," he said. "I dont think its too serious," he said.
Walsh's tilt at the record was overshadowed by the full forward at the other end of the park. It was Kye Chapple's nine goal effort - a bag that moved him to 79 for the season and 13 ahead of Walsh in the Golden Boot race - that was the difference as the Crocs ran away in the fourth quarter.
Nothing had split the teams all day until Port exploded with nine straight majors either side of three quarter time, Chapple ran all over them to set up a 130-90 lead. In blustery conditions both teams were accurate, but Port's 21.4 effort was next level precision.
"One on one Kye was unstoppable all day and kicked so straight," Walsh said. "It was really blowing and to kick that accurately is pretty impressive. We played well for three quarters and matched them. "But we will need to address out fitness and basic skills because they had the legs in the fourth and we didn't."
Saints were missing player coach Zac Kelly as well as Jordan Roberts, Alex Macqueen and Nathan Weiss who would likely mark Chapple in their next encounter on August 29 at Port Douglas.
"There are a few key players out but that doesn't deny the fact that the game was there for the taking and we couldn't grab it," Walsh said. The win pushed Port three wins clear on top of the ladder with five games remaining before finals.
Article courtesy of Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 22/07/2015 15:07