Sam Switkowski

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Sam Switkowski

| image = Sam Switkowski 01 190425.jpg

| caption = Switkowski in April 2025

| fullname = Samuel Switkowski

| nickname = Switta

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|11|20|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

| draftpick = No. 73, 2017 national draft

| height = 179 cm

| weight = 74 kg

| position = Forward

| guernsey = 39

| years1 = 2018–

| club1 = {{AFL Fre}}

| games_goals1 = 99 (64)

| statsend = round 18, 2025

| careerhighlights =

Beacon Award winner: 2019

}}

Sam Switkowski (born 20 November 1996) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Switkowski attended school at Eltham College. He played for the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup Under 18s competition, winning their best and fairest award in 2014. However, he was overlooked in the 2014 AFL draft and joined the Box Hill Hawks Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He again missed selection in the 2015 and 2016 drafts, but was recruited by Fremantle with their second last selection, 73rd overall, in the 2017 AFL draft.{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Nat |title=Last-minute Sam: VFL gun's draft night drama - AFL.com.au |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-12-06/how-freo-left-vfl-gun-on-tenterhooks |accessdate=10 August 2018 |work=afl.com.au |date=6 December 2017}}

AFL career

Despite having an interrupted first season at Fremantle due to hamstring injuries, Switkowski made his AFL debut in Round 21 of the 2018 AFL season, against Carlton at Etihad Stadium. A small forward known for his tackling and other pressure acts, he has been compared to his former Fremantle teammate Hayden Ballantyne.{{cite news |last1=Lacy |first1=Bridget |title=Dockers name Switkowski as eighth debutant |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-dockers-name-switkowski-as-eighth-debutant-in-2018-for-carlton-clash-ng-b88924690z |accessdate=10 August 2018 |work=The West Australian |date=10 August 2018}} Switkowski missed the 2020 AFL season due to sustaining a stress fracture in his back.

In 2022, he was ranked the number one small forward in the league for forward half pressure points per game (37.7) by Champion Data, and the third best small forward for tackles per game.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers forward Sam Switkowski can be matchwinner in elimination final against the Western Bulldogs|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/fremantle-dockers-forward-sam-switkowski-can-be-matchwinner-in-elimination-final-against-the-western-bulldogs-c-8093331|access-date=|work=The West Australian|date=2 September 2022|first=Ben|last=Smith}} Switkowski signed a contract extension during the 2022 AFL season, tying him to the club until at least 2024.{{cite news|title=A new deal for Freo’s elite!|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1170113/a-new-deal-for-freo-s-elite-|access-date=11 July 2022|language=en}} Following the 2022 AFL season, Switkowski was promoted to Fremantle's leadership group.{{cite news|title=Pearce named new Dockers captain, young guns as deputies|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/876651/freo-names-new-captain-young-guns-as-deputies|access-date= 31 May 2023 |last=Schmook|first=Nathan|work=|language=en}}

Sam had a standout performance in round three of the 2023 AFL season, collecting 21 disposals, 10 score involvements and kicking two goals.{{cite news |title=Demolition Derby: Dockers, injuries too much for decimated Eagles|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/895064/demolition-derby-fremantle-dockers-injuries-too-much-for-decimated-west-coast-eagles|access-date=15 January 2024 |work=afl.com.au|date=2 April 2023 |language=en|first=Nathan|last=Schmook}} He signed a two-year contract extension in June of 2023.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers forward Sam Switkowski extends contract for two more years, commits to the team until 2026|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-dockers-forward-sam-switkowski-extends-contract-for-two-more-years-commits-to-the-team-until-2026-c-10964030|work=PerthNow|date=13 June 2023| first=Ben|last=Smith}} Switkowski was a major contributor in round 20 during Fremantle's 7 point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park, collecting 17 disposals, six score involvements and kicking a goal.{{cite news|last=Welsh|first=Sophie|title=Dockers shock has Cats' flag defence hanging by a thread|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/988580/dockers-shock-has-cats-flag-defence-hanging-by-a-thread|access-date=30 July 2023|work=afl.com.au|language=en}}

Switkowski made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of 2024 AFL season, against the {{AFL BL}} at Optus Stadium. He kicked Fremantle's second goal of the game and finished with twelve disposals, a game-high three inside-50s, six score involvements and nine tackles.{{cite news|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/the-gut-busting-play-that-sparked-fremantle-s-comeback-win-20240318-p5fdcf.html|title=The gut-busting play that sparked Fremantle’s comeback win|first=Paddy|last=Sweeney|date=21 March 2023|work=watoday.com}} He collected eight disposals, nine tackles and kicked a goal the following week against {{AFL NM}}. Arguably his best game of the season so far was against {{AFL Mel}} in round 13 at Traeger Park in Alice Springs. Switkowski finished the match with a career-high 25 disposals, 401 metres gained, eight marks, five clearances, six inside 50’s, four-goal assists and a goal in what was a 92 point drubbing over the Demons.{{cite news|title=Fremantle forwards fire on all cylinders for record win|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1570191/fremantle-forwards-fire-on-all-cylinders-for-record-win|access-date= |work=|date= |first=|last=}} Switkowski played 20 games in 2024 and finished fifth in Fremantle's best and fairest award, polling 168 votes.{{cite news|title=Serong makes it two Fremantle B&Fs on the trot|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/09/18/serong-makes-it-two-fremantle-b-and-fs-on-the-trot|work=1116 SEN|date=18 September 2024| first=Andrew|last=Slevison}}

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of 2024{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Switkowski.html|title=Sam Switkowski|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=26 May 2022}}

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018

|{{AFL Fre}}

| 39 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 16 || 14 || 30 || 8 || 6 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 8.0 || 7.0 || 15.0 || 4.0 || 3.0 || 0

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019

|{{AFL Fre}}

| 39 || 18 || 6 || 3 || 89 || 116 || 205 || 45 || 89 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 4.9 || 6.4 || 11.4 || 2.5 || 4.9 || 0

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}}

|{{AFL Fre}}

| 39 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021

|{{AFL Fre}}

| 39 || 12 || 9 || 9 || 79 || 67 || 146 || 36 || 32 || 0.8 || 0.8 || 6.6 || 5.6 || 12.2 || 3.0 || 2.7 || 1

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022

|{{AFL Fre}}

| 39 || 14 || 11 || 6 || 79 || 122 || 201 || 23 || 63 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 5.6 || 8.7 || 14.3 || 1.6 || 4.5 || 0

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2023

|{{AFL Fre}}

| 39 || 22 || 16 || 9 || 134 || 174 || 308|| 58 || 89 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 6.0 || 7.9 || 14.0 || 2.6 || 4.0 || 1

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2024