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Sam Banks
Banks with Richmond's VFL team in July 2022
Personal information
Full name Samuel Banks[1]
Date of birth (2003-04-02) 2 April 2003 (age 22)
Original team(s) Tasmania Devils (NAB League)
Clarence Football Club (TSL)
Draft No. 29, 2021 AFL National Draft: Richmond
Debut Round 17, 2023, Richmond vs. Sydney, at MCG
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 74 kg (163 lb)
Position(s) Half-back / Wing
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 41
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2022– Richmond 34 (4)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 15, 2025 season.
Career highlights
  • Tasmania captain: 2021, 2019
  • NAB League team of the year: 2021
  • U16 All-Australian: 2019
  • U16 national championships division 2 MVP: 2019
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Samuel Banks (born 2 April 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Banks was drafted by Richmond with the 29th pick in the 2021 AFL Draft, and made his AFL debut in round 17 of the 2023 season.

Early life and junior football

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Banks was raised in Whitefoord, Tasmania, a regional town 53 kilometres north of Hobart.[1] He attended school at Oatlands District High School and Guilford Young College and played junior football for Woodsdale, Sorell and Central Hawks football clubs.[2][3][4]

Banks participated in top-level representative football from a young age, including captaining Tasmanian representative sides at Under 12 and Under 15 level.[1] In 2019 he made his senior debut for Clarence in the senior division of the Tasmanian State League, played Under 18 football for Tasmania Devils in the NAB League and captained the State's side at the Under 16s national championships.[5][6] He played three matches at the tournament, averaging 24 disposals and earned selection in the All-Australian team and as the Division 2 Most Valuable Player.[7][8]

Banks' participation in representative football was limited in 2020, particularly owing to the cancellation of the NAB League due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10] He did however feature at senior level again for Clarence in the State League.[11][12]

In 2021 Banks was a member of the elite development AFL Academy.[13] He returned to NAB League football as captain of Tasmania that year, but suffered a broken wrist in a match against Eastern Ranges in April.[12][14] The injury ruled him out for much of the remainder of the pandemic-affected season.[15][16] He finished the year having averaged 22 disposals, six rebound-50s and two intercept marks per game, and earned selection to the league's team of the year.[17]

The ongoing effects of his injury saw Banks excluded from the Allies squad for the 2021 Under 19 national championships, although state border movement restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic ultimately hindered Tasmanian representatives from travelling and playing.[18]

AFL career

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2022 season

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Banks was drafted by Richmond with the club's fourth pick and the 30th selection overall in the 2021 AFL draft.[1] He did not make an appearance at AFL level in his first season, instead playing 17 games with the club's reserves team in the VFL.[19]

2023 season

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Banks made his debut in round 17 of the 2023 season.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Banks becomes another Tassie Tiger". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  2. ^ "From a 'little old paddock' to Punt Road – Banks is ready to roar". AFL Tasmania. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  3. ^ Milic, Henry (30 May 2025). "From the paddock to Punt Road: Sam Banks". Richmond Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  4. ^ Tuxworth, Jon (5 July 2023). "How 'mature, high character' Banks continued Richmond's Tassie connection". The Mercury. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Banks named All Australian". AFL Tasmania. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  6. ^ Smith, Adam (12 April 2019). "Age no barrier for Clarence defender who has earned a call-up for Devils first match on home soil". Mercury. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  7. ^ "AFL EYE-CATCHERS: U16 All Australian Team". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  8. ^ Stubbs, Brett (18 July 2019). "Sam Banks joins elite company after dominating national carnival". Mercury. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  9. ^ Twomey, Callum (4 August 2020). "AFL cancels NAB League for 2020". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  10. ^ "#6 Sam Banks". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  11. ^ Williams, Peter (9 September 2020). "TSL scouting notes and wrap: Round 9 – Top two make statement". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b Rosen, Laurence (25 October 2021). "The silver lining for Tasmania's brightest draft prospect". SEN. Croc Media. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  13. ^ "The Gen Next of men's football has arrived". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  14. ^ Smith, Adam (22 April 2021). "Injury costs Devils chance to join cream of country's under-18 talent in AFL Academy exhibition match". Mercury. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  15. ^ Alvara, Michael (13 August 2021). "PREVIEW NAB League goes country in latest return". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  16. ^ Bresnehan, James; Stubbs, Brett (21 September 2021). "Top Devils to put their best boot forward against Queensland ahead of AFL Draft". Mercury. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  17. ^ Rhodes, Brendan (30 September 2021). "It's a tie: Morrish Medal drama as future stars light up NAB League awards". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Five Devils boys selected in Allies side". Tasmania Devils. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Teenage Tiger trio sign extensions". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Double debut against Swans". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  21. ^ Cotton, Ben (7 July 2023). "New Tiger's 'special' connection to champ... his fellow debutant's night ended in 78 seconds". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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