Sam Naismith Explained

Sam Naismith
Fullname:Sam Naismith
Birth Date:16 July 1992
Birth Place:Narrabri, New South Wales
Originalteam:North Shore (Sydney AFL)
Gunnedah (TAFL)
Draftpick:59th pick, 2013 Rookie Draft
Height:206cm
Weight:108kg
Position:Ruckman
Guernsey:24
Years1:2014–2022
Games Goals1:30 (3)
Years2:2024
Games Goals2:3 (0)
Games Goalstotal:33 (3)
Statsend:round 8, 2024 season

Sam Naismith (born 16 July 1992) is a former professional Australian rules footballer for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for the Sydney Swans between 2014 and 2022 before being delisted.

Early life and junior football

Naismith was born in Narrabri, New South Wales but moved to Gunnedah with his family at a young age. He grew up playing rugby league and supported the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League. He first played Australian rules football at the age of 16 when a school friend convinced him to take part in a few training sessions with the Gunnedah Bulldogs.[1] A year later, as a 17-year-old, he was named joint best and fairest winner of the Tamworth Australian Football League in 2009.[2] [3] By 2011 Naismith was ready to quit Aussie rules and move to Sydney to play rugby union until then-Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos called him and invited him to join the Swans' talent academy.[4] Naismith accepted the invitation and began playing for the North Shore Bombers in the Sydney AFL competition in 2012. By the end of the season he was rookie drafted by the Swans.

AFL & VFL career

Naismith made his debut for the Swans in the final round of 2014 season against Richmond. Naismith assumed the ruck duties alone that day as Mike Pyke and Tom Derickx, alternative ruck options, were both injured.[5]

In December 2022, Naismith was delisted by the Swans and signed by VFL side Port Melbourne Football Club. He played for Port Melbourne during the 2023 season. In November 2023, Naismith signed with as a delisted free agent[6] after the club traded their back-up ruckman Ivan Soldo to Port Adelaide during the trade period.[7] Naismith is expected to play as a back-up for premiership ruckman and Richmond co-captain Toby Nankervis in 2024.

Naismith announced his retirement from football on 21 August 2024.[8]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2022 season.[9] |-| 2014 || || 35| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 6 || 1 || 3 || 16 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.0 || 6.0 || 1.0 || 3.0 || 16.0|- | 2015 || || 35| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|-| 2016 || || 35| 12 || 3 || 1 || 42 || 68 || 110 || 25 || 39 || 277 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 3.5 || 5.7 || 9.2 || 2.1 || 3.3 || 23.1|-| 2017 || || 35| 15 || 0 || 3 || 52 || 81 || 133 || 25 || 40 || 419 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 3.5 || 5.4 || 8.9 || 1.7 || 2.7 || 27.9|- | 2018 || || 35| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|- | 2019 || || 35| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|- | 2020 || || 10| 2 || 0 || 0 || 15 || 4 || 19 || 5 || 9 || 53 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.5 || 2.0 || 9.5 || 2.5 || 4.5 || 26.5|- | 2021 || || 10| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|- | 2022 || || 10| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|- class=sortbottom! colspan=3 | Career! 30 !! 3 !! 4 !! 109 !! 159 !! 268 !! 56 !! 91 !! 765 !! 0.1 !! 0.1 !! 3.6 !! 5.3 !! 8.9 !! 1.9 !! 3.0 !! 25.5|}

Honours and achievements

Team

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Swans recruit Gunnedah local . . 1 October 2016 . 1 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161001235044/http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/12/12/3652982.htm . live .
  2. Web site: Tamworth pair reunite at Ladies Lunch . 1 October 2016 . 1 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161001204931/http://aflnswact.com.au/blog/2013/05/23/tamworth-pair-reunite-at-ladies-lunch/ . dead .
  3. Web site: AFL North West NSW . Triple dead heat in Tony Gillies Medal . 2009-08-23.
  4. News: Sam Naismith was set to quit Aussie rules until he got a phone call from Sydney coach Paul Roos . Herald Sun.
  5. News: Cordy . Neil . Neil Cordy . 21 August 2014 . Sydney can't afford to lose Mike Pyke but Sam Naismith and Toby Nankervis are ready . The Daily Telegraph . 22 August 2024 . 9 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240309043614/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/sydney-cant-afford-to-lose-mike-pyke-but-sam-naismith-and-toby-nankervis-are-ready/news-story/1be65476fdfcf83dc2088c66ad0f603e . live .
  6. Web site: Naismith becomes a Tiger. 1 Nov 2023. 22 August 2024. 13 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240413221101/https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1459211/naismith-becomes-a-tiger. live.
  7. Web site: Five picks to change hands as Soldo heads to Port. AFL.com.au. 18 October 2023. 22 August 2024. 18 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240718084233/https://www.afl.com.au/news/1052230/ivan-soldo-traded-from-richmond-to-port-adelaide. live.
  8. News: Naismith calls time . 21 Aug 2024 . richmondfc.com.au . 22 August 2024 . 21 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033131/https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1635320/naismith-calls-time . live .
  9. Web site: Sam Naismith stats. AFL Tables. 1 November 2016. 23 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161023045826/http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Naismith.html. live.