Player Watch #15 Sam Wicks

[Kennedy Parker]

Sam Wicks

Sam Wicks is a small forward with tidy skills below his knees and an outstanding awareness around goal. The QBE Sydney Swans Academy product was rookie-listed in November 2018 and was a consistent stand-out for the Sydney Swans’ NEAFL side in 2019. He became Sydney's fifth debutant of season 2020 when he was named to face Collingwood in Round 10, before finishing the season with seven appearances to his name. Wicks heads into 2021 fighting names like 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

, Ben Ronke

25

Ben Ronke

Age

26

Ht

183cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.7

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.7

4star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.2

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

5.2

5star

G

2.4

5star

, Lewis Taylor

28

Lewis Taylor

Age

29

Ht

174cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.6

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.1

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

9.6

2star

K

6.8

3star

HB

2.8

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.2

3star

CL

0.2

2star

D

12.6

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

6.4

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

1.2

4star

and Sam Gray

15

Sam Gray

Age

32

Ht

176cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

8.4

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.8

4star

D

10.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

5.8

3star

M

2.2

2star

T

2.4

3star

G

0.2

3star

D

12.8

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.0

4star

for a spot in Sydney’s best 22.

Sam Wicks
DOB: 14 September 1999
DEBUT: 2020
DRAFT: #Undefined, 2018 Other
RECRUITED FROM: Manly-Warringah (NSW)/Sydney (NEAFL)

Sam Wicks | AFL

Follow Sam Wicks's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[caesar88]

2 more years for Slick Wicks!!!

 

[BloodySwan]

2 more years for Slick Wicks!!!

2+ sounds like there's a trigger in there

 

[Tedeski]

2 more years for Slick Wicks!!!

Just got the email.
Great to see & he spoke very well
No reason why Sam can't kick 30 or so goals in a season the way he plays.
If he keeps doing his role he'll be one of the first picked in that forward line going forward.

 

[bedford]

Good news and hopefully it makes it harder for Bell to get a chance to stuff up

 

[Bonz]

2+ sounds like there's a trigger in there

Not mentioned in the email or article it's two plus.

Just states two year extension.

Wicks commits to the Swans

There's no place like home. Local product and lively forward Sam Wicks has signed a two year contract with the Swans.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[bedford]

Don't think we will see any Norf rodents in here now

 

[Millky95]

Just got the email.
Great to see & he spoke very well
No reason why Sam can't kick 30 or so goals in a season the way he plays.
If he keeps doing his role he'll be one of the first picked in that forward line going forward.

Needs to tighten up his accuracy for sure

 

[bedford]

Needs to tighten up his accuracy for sure

Better than Ding Dong

 

[Millky95]

Better than Ding Dong

No idea who that is but pretty sure Wicks was less than 50% so if he can turn that to 75 he'll be closer to at least a goal a game forward

 

[caesar88]

Good news and hopefully it makes it harder for Bell to get a chance to stuff up

If it's any consolation I think we'd have to be hit pretty hard by injuries next year for Bell to be getting senior games.

 

[bedford]

No idea who that is but pretty sure Wicks was less than 50% so if he can turn that to 75 he'll be closer to at least a goal a game forward

Bell

 

[Punts]

His kicking needs work 100

missed a lot

 

[bedford]

His kicking needs work 100

missed a lot

Hope he doesn't snipe anyone

 

[Punts]

Hope he doesn't snipe anyone

Wouldn’t blow the froff of a cappuccino like yourself

 

[caesar88]

Wicks' accuracy was 48.6% this year. Not ideal, but it's easily redeemable.

In 2020, 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

's accuracy was 49.1%; in 2019, Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

's was 42.9%, and in 2017, Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

31

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

's was 45.2%.

They were three of our better shots for goal this year.

I think the fact he managed 35 scoring shots in his first full year as a forward but didn't nail enough of his opportunities is hardly cause for concern.

 

[BloodySwan]

Not mentioned in the email or article it's two plus.

Just states two year extension.

Wicks commits to the Swans

There's no place like home. Local product and lively forward Sam Wicks has signed a two year contract with the Swans.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Going back over old releases when we say "at least until" that normally indicates trigger clauses in their contract

 

[bedford]

Wouldn’t blow the froff of a cappuccino like yourself

Or a Schooner

 

[Kiama Chris]

Absolutely delighted. Have followed Sam since his first year playing ressies. No-one has worked harder for their opportunities than he has. He is an integral.part of our forward line for the foreseeable future.

 

[BarneyBent]

Going back over old releases when we say "at least until" that normally indicates trigger clauses in their contract

I would be surprised if the delay on the contract wasn't due specifically to the trigger clause. Whether it's trigger conditions, length, or a combo of both - it feels like 2 has always been agreed, it's just the extras they were sorting.

 

[Millky95]

Wicks' accuracy was 48.6% this year. Not ideal, but it's easily redeemable.

In 2020, Tom Papley's accuracy was 49.1%; in 2019, Will Hayward's was 42.9%, and in 2017, Luke Parker's was 45.2%.

They were three of our better shots for goal this year.

I think the fact he managed 35 scoring shots in his first full year as a forward but didn't nail enough of his opportunities is hardly cause for concern.

Not complaining, just think it is an area to focus on for the summer. His pressure is outstanding

 

[Kiama Chris]

Not complaining, just think it is an area to focus on for the summer. His pressure is outstanding

Another thing is his evasive skills. Changing direction at full speed.
Also turns up in supporting positions very frequently, even when not needed in the end.

 

[bedford]

Still no Norfs lol

 

[scaryness]

Accuracy is such a volatile thing because I reckon its mostly mental. Structural skill issues can be fixed with a few seasons if you have some good coaches, mentally its always tough.

Lindsay Thomas went from major yips to deadeye in one offseason, same with Lewis Jetta. Levi Casboult

30

Levi Casboult

Age

34

Ht

199cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.7

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

10.1

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

5.9

5star

T

1.3

2star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.2

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

5.2

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.4

5star

went from missing his foot to being semi-reliable for a little bit. Buddy went from being a mixed bag to very reliable after a year with Nick Davis.

Accuracy will fluctuate wildly for some players and probaby isnt worth critiquing too harshly or overanalysing.

 

[dosser]

Not complaining, just think it is an area to focus on for the summer. His pressure is outstanding

I wonder if that is because a pressure forward gets most of their opportunities by snapping the loose ball? I remember he had a game or two where he led well and he had some set shots, but without going over the games he probably had most of them under pressure.

 

[ScrewInStuds]

I wonder if that is because a pressure forward gets most of their opportunities by snapping the loose ball? I remember he had a game or two where he led well and he had some set shots, but without going over the games he probably had most of them under pressure.

To me it mostly looked like a younger body still not quite able to grind out a full afl season yet. Was a lot fresher beginning of the year (and end of previous year) and was a very reliable shot for goal during those periods (eye test only, haven't looked at stats).