Player Watch #11 Tom Papley - Telling it like it is

[Kennedy Parker]

Tom Papley

Player Profile
Tom Papley

11

Tom Papley

Age

27

Ht

177cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.3

3star

K

8.9

4star

HB

3.4

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.4

5star

D

13.4

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.6

5star

swapped his plumbing tools for a Sherrin when the Sydney Swans sprung a draft surprise in 2015 – and the pocket-rocket forward has since become a crucial member of coach John Longmire’s side. Papley has played 20 or more senior games in every one of his four full seasons in the AFL and was at his best in 2019, topping Sydney’s goal-kicking leaderboard and finishing fourth in the Bob Skilton Medal voting. The Gippsland Power product took on more time in the midfield in 2019 and is likely to again split his time between the forward line and centre bounce this year. Papley was selected in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 team in 2017. Draft history: 2016 Rookie Draft selection (Sydney) No. 12; 2016 AFL Draft rookie elevation (Sydney).

Tom Papley

11

Tom Papley

Age

27

Ht

177cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.3

3star

K

8.9

4star

HB

3.4

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.4

5star

D

13.4

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.6

5star

DOB: 13 July 1996
DEBUT:2016
DRAFT: 2016
RECRUITED FROM: Bunyip (Vic)/Gippsland U18

Tom Papley | AFL

Follow Tom Papley's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Crust]

Form isn't great atm, not quite finishing, but big efforts. 11 score involvements today, the most on the ground. Great to see a game where even if things weren't going quite right for him he was bringing others into it.

This is Paps to a T. Everything he does is at full speed. He was down on form but kept putting in the effort and he has turned his form around with 4 goals yesterday. Two were pure arse but that doesn't matter - he also gave a few away to teammates.

Fox didn't show the song yesterday but week in week out Paps belts out the song harder and louder than anyone else.

 

[CheapCharlie]

3 goals in 3 minutes and a heap of activity up forward to steer the game our way

To think if it wasn't for the hubris of Essendon's Adrian Dodoro, he would be playing for Carlton now. Thanks Dodoro!

 

[caesar88]

He's had probably his most selfless and team-oriented year to date, yet he's also had his most prolific year to date. Four goals ahead of his PB for a season, with four games at least one game still to go.

 

[Superstar swan]

Should be all australian this year

 

[Kapers]

I know people have different opinions on players importance.

IMO, Papley is our most important player. Has won more games this year for us than any other player (Geelong, Essendon, GWS, and Carlton). Of course it takes more than Papley to make a winning team, but his goals and ability to bring other players in the game is sensational.

 

[Borough Blood]

Should be all australian this year

Read that as Australian of The Year.
I'm ok with it.

 

[MF]

I know people have different opinions on players importance.

IMO, Papley is our most important player. Has won more games this year for us than any other player (Geelong, Essendon, GWS, and Carlton). Of course it takes more than Papley to make a winning team, but his goals and ability to bring other players in the game is sensational.

Not sure if I'd say our most important but he's definitely in our top few. I agree on everything else you'd said though.

There's been numerous games this year where we've been outplayed and Papley has created goals out of nothing against the flow of play and wrestled momentum back for us. He's the definition of a matchwinner

 

[bedford]

Not sure if I'd say our most important but he's definitely in our top few. I agree on everything else you'd said though.

There's been numerous games this year where we've been outplayed and Papley has created goals out of nothing against the flow of play and wrestled momentum back for us. He's the definition of a matchwinner

Heeney is a bit the same

 

[rustycrate]

Heeney is a bit the same

A bit the same but not as consistent. Still can take a hold of a game and turn a game on his marking and kicking from ridiculous angles. Star.

 

[SwansProudly]

Isn't that the beauty of our team - one week a Heeney or Papley takes it on, but other weeks it is another player.
Must give our opponents pre-game headaches as to who to cover.

 

[Tesla Tenet]

Congrats Paps. The King of the goal celebration.

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

 

[BloodySwan]

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Well deserved

 

[Ticky009]

Congratulations Tom!! Has played some fantastic football this year and this is well deserved recognition for his efforts.

 

[Superstar swan]

Congrats paps, Wer gonna need some of that all australian level play this week !

 

[ScrewInStuds]

Some cracking goal celebrations coming up this weekend I reckon. Well done.

 

[bedford]

Great call bedford

And still is with a bump great man

 

[scaryness]

Career high in goals
Career high in goal assists
Career high in score involvements

 

[Jeffers]

Incredible year from Paps. Kept us in so many games with an arsey goal when the chips were down.

So much swagger and i hope he can have a cracking finals series

 

[ScrewInStuds]

Incredible year from Paps. Kept us in so many games with an arsey goal when the chips were down.

So much swagger and i hope he can have a cracking finals series

Saw a great stat on reddit that Papley's the only player to be nominated for 5 x goal of the year in 2021. The next closest was Betts with 3. Has become one of my favourite Swans, brings so much spark to the team

 

[SwansProudly]

Papley honoured with All Australian selection

Hear from Sydney Swans forward Tom Papley who spoke following his 2021 All Australian team selection

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[elastic]

Saw a great stat on reddit that Papley's the only player to be nominated for 5 x goal of the year in 2021. The next closest was Betts with 3. Has become one of my favourite Swans, brings so much spark to the team

Has kicked some absolute crackers this year. Great to see him get recognition for his efforts. All Swans fans know how good he is. I think he has improved as the season has worn on, adjusting to being a part of a well functioning forward line. Last year he had to carry it all on his shoulders.

 

[Kennedy Parker]

I am so glad we held him to that contract a few years back!

 

[wills2g]

Would like to see Paps and Parker as the two skippers next year

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Some of those snaps on another day would of went through nothing ever seems to go right for us in finals.