Sam Banks

Banks was raised in Whitefoord, Tasmania, a regional town 53 kilometres north of Hobart.^[1] He attended school at Oatlands District High School and Guilford Young College and played junior football for Woodsdale, Sorell and Central Hawks football clubs.^[2][3][4]

Banks participated in top-level representative football from a young age, including captaining Tasmanian representative sides at Under 12 and Under 15 level.^[1] In 2019 he made his senior debut for Clarence in the senior division of the Tasmanian State League, played Under 18 football for Tasmania Devils in the NAB League and captained the State's side at the Under 16s national championships.^[5][6] He played three matches at the tournament, averaging 24 disposals and earned selection in the All-Australian team and as the Division 2 Most Valuable Player.^[7][8]

Banks' participation in representative football was limited in 2020, particularly owing to the cancellation of the NAB League due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[9][10] He did however feature at senior level again for Clarence in the State League.^[11][12]

In 2021 Banks was a member of the elite development AFL Academy.^[13] He returned to NAB League football as captain of Tasmania that year, but suffered a broken wrist in a match against Eastern Ranges in April.^[12][14] The injury ruled him out for much of the remainder of the pandemic-affected season.^[15][16] He finished the year having averaged 22 disposals, six rebound-50s and two intercept marks per game, and earned selection to the league's team of the year.^[17]

The ongoing effects of his injury saw Banks excluded from the Allies squad for the 2021 Under 19 national championships, although state border movement restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic ultimately hindered Tasmanian representatives from travelling and playing.^[18]

Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.^[22]