Sam Fisher (footballer)

Samuel Fisher (born 10 July 1982) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Sam Fisher
Fisher training at Moorabbin Oval, 2009
Personal information
Full name Samuel Fisher
Date of birth (1982-07-10) 10 July 1982
Original team(s) West Adelaide (SANFL)
Draft No. 55, 2003 national draft
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2004–2016 St Kilda 228 (22)
International team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2006 Australia 2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2016.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2006.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Between the ages of 17 and 19, Fisher was a promising junior golfer and played off a handicap of 1.[1] He won the Riverland Tyre and Mag Boxing Day Classic four times, twice with his father Terry and twice with his brother Ben. However, Fisher gave away a possible career in golf for AFL football.

Fisher began playing Australian rules in South Australia with West Adelaide, where he was first identified by AFL scouts at the age of 21.

AFL career
Fisher playing for St Kilda during the 2007 AFL Season
Fisher at training prior to the 2009 AFL Grand Final under the eye of assistant coach Stephen Silvagni

The versatile defender was selected as pick number 55 in the 2003 AFL Draft. He made his debut in 2004 following some injuries to other key defenders

In 2005, Fisher took a major step in his career and improved dramatically to hold down a regular spot in the Saints' defence. He generally played on the third best forward of the opposition and began to provide terrific run from the half-back line. In 2006 he played every match and had up 421 disposals for the season.[2] His run and carry from the half-back line was critical to St Kilda's 6th-place finish and he finished third in the St Kilda best and fairest award.

Injuries to other key defenders at the start of the 2007 season saw Fisher assume the mantle at full-back. He performed strongly against the power forwards of the competition before injuring his hamstring in Round 4. He returned in Round 7 and was able to resume his attacking position across halfback in the second half of the year. He finished off the year strongly and was nominated in the backline in the squad of 40 players for the All-Australian Team.[3] Fisher was ranked 8th in total marks, 17th in kicks per game and 2nd in marks per game.

Fisher signed a two-year contract extension in September 2007 until the end of 2010.

Fisher had more opportunities to play as a key position backman after a season-ending injury to Matt Maguire early in the season.

He played in St Kilda’s 2008 NAB Cup winning side, the club's third pre-season cup win.[4][5]

Fisher had a strong season, averaging 22 disposals and 8 marks a game at the end of the regular season. He was included in the All-Australian team on the half-back flank, the first time he had been awarded that honour.[6] Fisher also won the Saints Trevor Barker Award for the best and fairest player in the season. He polled 680 votes to finish ahead of Nick Riewoldt who polled 643 votes.[7][8]

Fisher again showed a strong presence in St Kilda's home and away season, playing as either a loose backman or the centre halfback. He performed strongly in the first qualifying final against Collingwood with a career high 42 disposals.

Fisher played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership.[9]

St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Fisher played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.

Fisher played 24 games in 2010, including four finals matches. He was one of St Kilda's best players in the drawn Grand Final, and had 16 possessions in the Grand Final replay before injuring his hamstring before half time.

As of the end of the 2010 season, Fisher had played in 12 finals matches including three grand finals.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Fisher announced his retirement from AFL football, having played 228 games for St Kilda.[10]

Statistics
[11]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2004 St Kilda 257024917662560.00.37.02.49.43.60.9
2005 St Kilda 25212018910329291190.10.09.04.913.94.30.9
2006 St Kilda 252322310162472158300.10.113.57.020.56.91.3
2007 St Kilda 252002296110406186230.00.114.85.520.39.31.2
2008 St Kilda 252552359217576228390.20.114.48.723.09.11.6
2009 St Kilda 252442323228551184360.20.113.59.523.07.71.5
2010 St Kilda 252456305209514188430.20.312.78.721.47.81.8
2011 St Kilda 252324292194486153560.10.212.78.421.16.72.4
2012 St Kilda 2515111788726595280.10.111.95.817.76.31.9
2013 St Kilda 25900986316156140.00.010.97.017.96.21.6
2014 St Kilda 25710844212650190.10.012.06.018.07.12.7
2015 St Kilda 251800208102310120320.00.011.65.717.26.71.8
2016 St Kilda 2512021086317164210.00.29.05.314.35.31.8
Career 228 22 23 2799 1597 4396 1598 366 0.1 0.1 12.3 7.0 19.3 7.0 1.6

References
  1. Blake, Martin (18 April 2009). "The Roughie". The Age.
  2. "AFL Tables:Samuel Fisher". AFL Tables: AFL-VFL match and player stats, records and lists. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  3. "All-Australian squad announced". AFL Official Site. Australian Football League. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  4. "St Kilda wins NAB cup". The Age. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  5. "Saints are NAB Cup Champions in 2008". Jeld-Wen. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  6. "St Kilda's All-Australian duo". afl.com.au – Alistair Hogg. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  7. "Sam Fisher wins 2008 St Kilda Best & Fairest". afl.com.au – Alistair Hogg. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  8. "Fisher voted best Saint". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  9. "2009 Season Scores and Results – Ladder". AFL Tables. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  10. Schmook, Nathan (31 October 2016). "Saint Sam hangs up the boots after 13 seasons". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  11. "Sam Fisher stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
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