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Carlton were always going to use the No.1 pick to recruit Sam Walsh, rated the best midfielder in this year's draft.

Sam Walsh plans to make an immediate impact at Carlton, bullish that the AFL strugglers are about to start climbing the ladder.

The Blues' fifth No.1 draft pick since 2005 was rated the top midfielder in the draft and there was no surprise when AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan called out his name as the top choice.

There are massive wraps on the 18-year-old and while he is going to a club that only won two games this season, Walsh is rapt to join the Blues.

New co-captains Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty presented Walsh on stage with his Carlton guernsey.

"I love watching my AFL footy and to see the journey that Carlton have been on over the last couple of years, I'm just stoked when you meet Sam Docherty and Paddy Cripps," he said.

"To get started with them and hopefully be part of something they're building towards, it seems to be a pretty good journey."

While Walsh grew up a Brisbane fan, his Dad Wayne is a diehard Blues fan and took him to several Carlton games.

"I'm sure he'll be pretty pumped," Walsh said.

"The thing with Carlton this year I noticed they played a lot of good footy in quarters and bits and it will just take that next step to play consistent footy through four quarters.

"They definitely have the right personnel to do that."

Walsh aims to make his AFL debut in round one and is rapt that he will combine in the midfield with Cripps, one of the league's best young onballers.

"I will just get there and learn everything I can," Walsh said.

"I just can't wait to get into it."

Walsh, who played for the Geelong Falcons, is also happy not to move interstate.

He said there were no indications from Carlton that they would take him with the No.1 pick.

"It is definitely great to be in Victoria and I had the mindset that I was happy to go anywhere," he said.

"I just wanted to be on an AFL list.

"For that to be in your home state, it definitely is a bit of a bonus and makes it a bit easier to catch up with the family.

"But I was willing to embrace wherever that was and I'm super-pumped it's Carlton.: