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 89 matches with the Gold Coast Suns between 2020 and 2025.
| Sam Flanders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Flanders with St Kilda in March 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Sam Flanders | ||
| Nickname | Ned[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 | 12 (1) | |
| Total | 101 (38) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 13, 2026. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early life
editFlanders 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
editFlanders 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
editUpdated to the end of round 13, 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 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 153 | 125 | 278 | 67 | 45 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 12.8 | 10.4 | 23.2 | 5.6 | 3.8 | |
| Career | 101 | 38 | 24 | 1068 | 976 | 2044 | 415 | 273 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 10.6 | 9.7 | 20.2 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 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.
References
edit- ↑ Waterworth, Ben (19 November 2019). "When you have a surname like this AFL draft prospect does, a cheeky Simpsons reference is inevitable". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ↑ Lewis, Tyler (3 September 2019). "Flanders destined to flourish". Berwick Gazette. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ↑ "Lowanna Sports Academy" (PDF).
- ↑ "'It was a massive part': Young Sun signs on after 'Dimma' chat". afl.com.au. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ↑ "Suns gun wishes to explore trade options". afl.com.au. 16 September 2025.
- ↑ @AFL_House (8 October 2025). "Trade approved. Gold Coast SUNS trade Sam Flanders to St Kilda for Round One pick 7 in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ "Sam Flanders". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
External links
edit
- Sam Flanders's profile on the official website of the St Kilda Football Club
- Sam Flanders's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Sam Flanders at AustralianFootball.com
