Why Sonny always brought the smiles at Fremantle

Perth Now

a day ago

There are few Fremantle players who could bring a smile to your face like Michael Walters, and the recently retired legend says it was always a key part of his game.
The Dockers great and The West Australian columnist appeared on Channel 7's The Front Bar and fittingly explained why it's always important to have a laugh at the footy.
'I've always been one who likes to have fun and just enjoy myself, and I thought if I could rub that off on a few players, that would make them play better,' Walters said.
'Footy is a strenuous job, so if you can have fun on the weekends, those are the best two hours of your week. I kept that away from Ross (Lyon) though!'
As the panel went through his playing career, there were just as many highlights of his goal celebrations as there were goals, even revealing how some criticism from the newspaper inspired one.
After kicking a goal against Sydney in 2021, Walters turned and feigned writing in a notepad, which he said was in response to some feedback he had received. Michael Walters on The Front Bar Credit: supplied / supplied
'The first one I copped some articles in The West Australian, but I'm a part of them now, so I enjoy it,' he said.
'There was always some thought behind them, and it is something I worked on from time to time.'
Walters famously grew up in Midvale alongside fellow draftees Nic Naitanui and Chris Yarran and he revealed who was the best of the trio at the time.
'When I play, I always go back to those times. We tried to keep Nic Nat away from the footy as much as we could,' he said.
'But Chris Yarran was the best of us at that age by a country mile.'
While Walters had plenty of accolades to look back on from captaining the Indigenous All Stars to All-Australian honours, Walters said he would trade it all for a flag. Michael Walters of the Dockers shares a moment with Nat Fyfe after retiring Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images
'Looking back on it now, I'm proud of that but as a footy professional, you want that main goal which is the flag,' he said.
'As you come to the end, you do look back on it only, but it's mainly something for the family members.'
However, Walters believes this year could end Fremantle's torment in their wait for a maiden flag and give Nat Fyfe a fairytale send-off after he announced his retirement at the end of the season earlier this week.
'I do think they can win it this year,' he said.
'[Fyfe] single-handedly put the club on the map, especially early days. He was a superstar, you see what he does on the footy field, he goes hard at it.
'He's an all-time great and someone who was genuinely there for you as a person.'