Sam Banks
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Sam Banks
| nickname =
| image = Sam Banks 17.07.22 (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Banks with Richmond's VFL team in July 2022
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|04|02|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Tasmania Devils (NAB League)
Clarence Football Club (TSL)
| draftpick = No. 29, 2021 AFL National Draft: {{AFL Ric}}
| debutdate = Round 17, 2023
| debutteam = {{AFL Ric}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL Syd}}
| debutstadium = MCG
| height = 187 cm
| weight = 74 kg
| position = Half-back / Wing
| currentclub = {{AFL Ric}}
| guernsey = 41
| years1 = 2022–
| club1 = {{AFL Ric}}
| games_goals1 = 34 (4)
| statsend = round 15, 2025 season
| careerhighlights = *Tasmania captain: 2021, 2019
- NAB League team of the year: 2021
- U16 All-Australian: 2019
- U16 national championships division 2 MVP: 2019
}}
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
Banks was raised in Whitefoord, Tasmania, a regional town 53 kilometres north of Hobart. He attended school at Oatlands District High School and Guilford Young College and played junior football for Woodsdale, Sorell and Central Hawks football clubs.{{cite news |title=From a ‘little old paddock’ to Punt Road – Banks is ready to roar |url=https://www.afltas.com.au/2021/11/26/from-a-little-old-paddock-to-punt-road-banks-is-ready-to-roar/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=AFL Tasmania |date=26 November 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Milic |first1=Henry |title=From the paddock to Punt Road: Sam Banks |url=https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1793560/from-the-paddock-to-punt-road-sam-banks |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Richmond Media |publisher=Telstra Media |date=30 May 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Tuxworth |first1=Jon |title=How ‘mature, high character’ Banks continued Richmond’s Tassie connection |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport%2Fhow-mature-high-character-banks-continued-richmonds-tassie-connection%2Fnews-story%2F9e46174a290b0c4e411dc4d9111f6439?amp&nk=75dd54f78e4728e4a3b40da09f34320e-1750225232 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=The Mercury |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=5 July 2023}}
Banks participated in top-level representative football from a young age, including captaining Tasmanian representative sides at Under 12 and Under 15 level. 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.{{cite news |title=Banks named All Australian |url=https://www.afltas.com.au/2019/07/18/banks-named-all-australian/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=AFL Tasmania |date=18 July 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Adam |title=Age no barrier for Clarence defender who has earned a call-up for Devils first match on home soil |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport%2Fage-no-barrier-for-clarence-defender-who-has-earned-a-callup-for-devils-first-match-on-home-soil%2Fnews-story%2Fe68dd4b350448bb74480edc65339d471?amp&nk=75dd54f78e4728e4a3b40da09f34320e-1750224337 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Mercury |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=12 April 2019}} 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.{{cite news |title=AFL EYE-CATCHERS: U16 All Australian Team |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/134122/afl-eye-catchers-u16-all-australian-team |access-date=16 May 2025 |work=AFL Media |publisher=Telstra Media |date=18 July 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Stubbs |first1=Brett |title=Sam Banks joins elite company after dominating national carnival |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport%2Fafl%2Fsam-banks-joins-elite-company-after-dominating-national-carnival%2Fnews-story%2F5cdfe9ddefcef9b7f0cbe59c500db4a8?amp&nk=75dd54f78e4728e4a3b40da09f34320e-1750224323 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Mercury |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=18 July 2019}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Twomey |first1=Callum |title=AFL cancels NAB League for 2020 |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/480666/afl-cancels-nab-league-for-2020 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=AFL Media |publisher=Telstra Media |date=4 August 2020}}{{cite web |title=#6 Sam Banks |url=https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/sam-banks/ |website=Rookie Me Central |access-date=18 June 2025}} He did however feature at senior level again for Clarence in the State League.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Peter |title=TSL scouting notes and wrap: Round 9 – Top two make statement |url=https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2020/09/09/tsl-scouting-notes-and-wrap-round-9-top-two-make-statement/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Rookie Me Central |date=9 September 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Rosen |first1=Laurence |title=The silver lining for Tasmania's brightest draft prospect |url=https://archive.sen.com.au/news/2021/10/25/the-silver-lining-for-tasmanias-brightest-draft-prospect/index.html |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=SEN |publisher=Croc Media |date=25 October 2021}}
In 2021 Banks was a member of the elite development AFL Academy.{{cite news |title=The Gen Next of men's football has arrived |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/569767/nab-league-media-release-the-gen-next-of-mens-football-start-tomorrow |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=AFL Media |publisher=Telstra Media |date=26 March 2021}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Adam |title=Injury costs Devils chance to join cream of country’s under-18 talent in AFL Academy exhibition match |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport%2Finjury-costs-devils-chance-to-join-cream-of-countrys-under18-talent-in-afl-academy-exhibition-match%2Fnews-story%2Fe270afdbdc0f07a3a557f4b23d8186d6?amp&nk=75dd54f78e4728e4a3b40da09f34320e-1750223989 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Mercury |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=22 April 2021}} The injury ruled him out for much of the remainder of the pandemic-affected season.{{cite news |last1=Alvara |first1=Michael |title=PREVIEW NAB League goes country in latest return |url=https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2021/08/13/preview-nab-league-goes-country-in-latest-return/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Rookie Me Central |date=13 August 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Bresnehan |first1=James |last2=Stubbs |first2=Brett |title=Top Devils to put their best boot forward against Queensland ahead of AFL Draft |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/news%2Ftasmania%2Fformer-roo-jeromey-webberley-to-lead-tasmanias-footy-talent-pathway%2Fnews-story%2F2213868fa03d25010a9a04cabed44d13?amp&nk=75dd54f78e4728e4a3b40da09f34320e-1750224013 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Mercury |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=21 September 2021}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Rhodes |first1=Brendan |title=It's a tie: Morrish Medal drama as future stars light up NAB League awards |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/682700/future-stars-light-up-nab-boys-league-awards |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=AFL Media |publisher=Telstra Media |date=30 September 2021}}
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.{{cite news |title=Five Devils boys selected in Allies side |url=https://tasdevils.com.au/2021/09/29/five-devils-boys-selected-in-allies-side/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Tasmania Devils |date=29 September 2021}}
AFL career
=2022 season=
Banks was drafted by {{AFL Ric}} with the club's fourth pick and the 30th selection overall in the 2021 AFL draft.{{cite news |title=Banks becomes another Tassie Tiger |url=https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1033546/banks-becomes-another-tassie-tiger |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=Richmond FC |publisher=Telstra Media |date=25 November 2021}} 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.{{cite news |title=Teenage Tiger trio sign extensions |url=https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1239282/teenage-tiger-trio-sign-extensions |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=Richmond FC |publisher=Telstra Media |date=20 October 2022}}
=2023 season=
Banks made his debut in round 17 of the 2023 season.{{cite news |title=Double debut against Swans |url=https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1371782/double-debut-against-swans |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=Richmond FC |publisher=Telstra Media |date=3 July 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Cotton |first1=Ben |title=New Tiger’s ‘special’ connection to champ... his fellow debutant’s night ended in 78 seconds |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/richmond-tigers/afl-2023-sam-banks-debut-richmond-tigers-defeat-sydney-swans-at-mcg-tasmanian-connection-clarence-jacob-bauer-hamstring-injury-andrew-mcqualter-press-conference/news-story/6701c8e5461b6bb888a40969101d6eb2 |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=Fox Sports |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=7 July 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Richplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables|ref=S/Sam_Banks.html}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
{{Richmond player squad}}
{{2021 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Sam}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Tasmania
Category:Richmond Football Club players
Category:Clarence Football Club players