Sam Flanders
Australian rules footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sam Flanders (born 24 July 2001) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played professionally for the Gold Coast Suns.
Fish Creek, Victoria
| Sam Flanders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Sam Flanders | ||
| Nickname | Flanders[1] | ||
| Born |
24 July 2001 Fish Creek, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Gippsland Power (NAB League) | ||
| Draft | No. 11, 2019 AFL draft, Gold Coast | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | St Kilda | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2020–2025 | Gold Coast | 89 (37) | |
| 2026– | St Kilda | 1 (0) | |
| Total | 89 (37) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Opening Round, 2026. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early life
Flanders was born in Fish Creek, Victoria.[2] He grew up playing basketball and Australian rules football at high junior levels. He attended Foster Secondary College, before moving to Lowanna College to be part of their selective football academy.[3]
AFL career
Flanders was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with the eleventh pick in the 2019 AFL draft. He made his AFL debut in round 11 of the 2020 AFL season against Essendon at Metricon Stadium. In 2023, he signed a four-year contract extension that ties him to the Suns until at least the end of 2027.[4] After the 2025 season finished Flanders told the Suns of his desire to be traded elsewhere for the upcoming 2026 season.[5] This came after weeks of speculation with links to a trade back to Victoria. He ultimately requested a trade to St Kilda, and was traded on 8 October.[6]
Statistics
Updated to the end of Opening Round, 2026.[7]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2020[a] | Gold Coast | 26 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 4 | 14 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0 |
| 2021 | Gold Coast | 26 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 96 | 93 | 189 | 46 | 62 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 11.8 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 0 |
| 2022 | Gold Coast | 26 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 51 | 46 | 97 | 22 | 19 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 10.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0 |
| 2023 | Gold Coast | 3 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 179 | 160 | 339 | 75 | 35 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 12.8 | 11.4 | 24.2 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 1 |
| 2024 | Gold Coast | 3 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 380 | 300 | 680 | 122 | 50 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 17.3 | 13.6 | 30.9 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 12 |
| 2025 | Gold Coast | 3 | 23 | 12 | 6 | 192 | 238 | 430 | 79 | 48 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 8.3 | 10.3 | 18.7 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 3 |
| 2026 | St Kilda | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 28.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | TBA |
| Career | 90 | 37 | 21 | 929 | 865 | 1794 | 355 | 230 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 10.3 | 9.6 | 19.9 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 16 | ||
Notes
- The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
