Player Watch Welcome to Richmond Pick 29 - Sam Banks

Mar 14, 2009
20,266
19,692
MCG
AFL Club
Richmond
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Tottenham
The biggest head scratching pick. Especially after pick Brown at 17 who plays the same role, is the same size and is more proven with similar strengths.

Maybe the plan is he will be a midfielder but I have always said if you want a mid draft the elite midfielders from the juniors. Pushing sh*t uphill otherwise. And there was some elite junior mids left.

Hopefully it turns out well.
 

Ancient Tiger

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Sep 18, 2007
16,613
35,088
Richmond
AFL Club
Richmond
The biggest head scratching pick. Especially after pick Brown at 17 who plays the same role, is the same size and is more proven with similar strengths.

Maybe the plan is he will be a midfielder but I have always said if you want a mid draft the elite midfielders from the juniors. Pushing sh*t uphill otherwise. And there was some elite junior mids left.

Hopefully it turns out well.
He is a leader that because of injury has gone under the radar. How do you know he is not elite? Recruiters are stoked with his selection and I am backing them in.
 

Marcel Proust

"Oohh WADA ooga booga" {Jul 11 2013}
Sep 6, 2018
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AFL Club
Richmond
He did this two weeks after his sixteen birthday :)
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That's not bad
 
The biggest head scratching pick. Especially after pick Brown at 17 who plays the same role, is the same size and is more proven with similar strengths.

Maybe the plan is he will be a midfielder but I have always said if you want a mid draft the elite midfielders from the juniors. Pushing sh*t uphill otherwise. And there was some elite junior mids left.

Hopefully it turns out well.

17/18 clubs interviewed him. That’s a bit of interest
 

Marcel Proust

"Oohh WADA ooga booga" {Jul 11 2013}
Sep 6, 2018
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He was playing nab league @ 15 years old

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Age no barrier for Clarence defender who has earned a call-up for Devils first match on home soil

Highly-touted Clarence talent Sam Banks is yet to turn 16 but will be thrust into the excitement of the Devils’ first home NAB League clash in Penguin

ADAM SMITH, Mercury

April 12, 2019 10:01pm


HIGHLY touted Clarence talent Sam Banks is yet to turn 16 but will be thrust into the excitement of the Devils first home NAB League clash in Penguin tomorrow.

Banks has not looked out of place training with some of his more senior counterparts and has earned a state debut when the Devils chase back to back victories against the Calder Cannons at Dial Park.

A running defender, Banks will be eased into action via the competition’s 23rd player rules — which allows teams to have an extra body on restricted minutes — with AFL Tasmania staff eager to see how the teenager stacks up at under-18 level.

“There has been in the NAB League a rule for the Victorian sides you are not eligible to play under-16s until after the national championships, but we have a bit of scope in terms of what we can do and Sam certainly deserves his opportunity,” AFL Tasmania Football Manager Craig Notman.

“He has trained with the under-18 group for the majority of the pre-season, he has certainly held his own.

“For a young guy we are very mindful that we don’t burn him out too early, with the ability to play that 23rd guy we can strictly monitor what he does in a game sense.

“We wouldn’t be throwing him into the mix if we didn’t think he could compete at that level.”

Banks made his TSL senior debut for Clarence against reigning premiers North Launceston last weekend, capping a whirlwind week for the youngster.

Notman believes the introduction to the NAB League will be the perfect platform leading into the under-16 nationals.


“His major focus for us is definitely the under-16 championships as there are a lot of other opportunities that can stem from that.

“This will be a good challenge for him and something that will benefit him when he gets to the under 16 champs.”

Notman said there was an element of the unknown about the Cannons, who are missing
 

Infamy

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Oct 1, 2004
12,155
19,106
Melbourne, VIC
AFL Club
Richmond
Apparently Banks was one of the players we were willing to trade up for to get, so we must rate him super high

Clarke told the Herald Sun the Tigers had found the right blend of needs and elite talent as the club’s triple premiership stars eventually left the club.
“There are a couple of guys in Sonsie and Banks in particular who we were thinking about making enquiries about moving up the draft and the way things unfolded we got them both,” he said.
 

robin kennedy

Debutant
Feb 23, 2014
107
285
AFL Club
Richmond
No idea why but for some reason he gives me Luke Hodge vibes in the interview.
Yeah, just watched the interview and was thinking exactly the same. Very impressive the way he spoke, level headed, clear and direct. Certainly hope that Sam lives up to the Luke Hodge tag we have given him. Seems a natural leader. Good luck Sam.
 
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