With all the talk surrounding when Sam Walsh would return to action, it took a little bit of the gloss off of what has been a historic first 100 games for Carlton’s co-vice captain.

Returning to the senior fold on Saturday and bringing up his century milestone in the process, Walsh showcased exactly what the Blues have been missing out of the middle, amassing 34 disposals and 13 tackles to be his team’s best on the day.

But, in the end, Carlton was unable to salute both Walsh and Blake Acres in their respective milestone games, letting a late lead slip to fall by two points to Adelaide in its first blemish of the 2024 season.

And even Walsh, who missed the opening month with a back injury, didn’t take the chance to register what bringing up 100 games in Navy Blue meant to him during the week, having been so focused on having an impact in his first game back.

“It probably took the gloss off [the milestone], but it’s probably a good thing. I knew I needed to go out there and perform a good role which ‘Vossy’ gave me great confidence to do,” Walsh told Carlton Media post-match.

“To get back in the swing of things now is great, to tick off a nice little achievement with the milestone. The name on the locker is pretty cool, to walk in every day and be able to see that.

“Hopefully there’s plenty more to come.”

In a career which has already yielded an AFL Rising Star, Mark of the Year, All-Australian selection and a John Nicholls Medal, there wouldn’t have been too many games which Walsh was more excited for than the most recent.

After completing the majority of pre-season, a back injury halted Walsh’s preparation a month prior to the season, with the Blues taking a cautious approach with the 23-year-old to ensure he was in the best possible place to impact the season as a whole.

“It was great to be back out there. Watching the boys go about their business, they’ve been going really well this year and I would’ve loved to have been involved in that, which I got to be today.

“We obviously would’ve loved the win at the end of it. I had a good block and a month’s training to get some confidence heading into the game, it felt really good to be back out there.”

With game No.100 done and a result to rue, Walsh has his focus squarely on what’s to come in game No.101 — a return to Marvel Stadium for a clash with the undefeated Giants.

After the Blues conceded 100 points for just the fifth time under Michael Voss, it’s no secret where the team’s focus will lie heading into next week.

“There’ll be things to walk on [from the Adelaide loss], particularly the defensive stuff — anytime a team kicks 100 points is a bit disappointing on the team defence. We’ll get to work on that, particularly with a team like the Giants,” he said.

“The Giants are a pretty strong team all over the ground. We know what stands up for us, and getting back to that real defensive grit.

“It’s a long year, we’ll keep building our brand.”