Sam Jacobs

Sam Jacobs is now one of the premier ruckmen of the AFL however, as a junior, a career at the highest level seemed a long way away. In fact but for a chance selection he may never have had the opportunity to have even be drafted.

Sam began his junior career at under 10s level with his country club Ardrossan and progressed through the grades to reach under 17s at age 15. He represented the Yorke Peninsula league at under 15 level and played for the Woodville West Torrens country team in the under 15 Smartplay Cup. Sam was very fortunate to make the Smartplay Cup team, as he was the last player picked. Selectors Steve Papps and John Harris pushed for his inclusion because he was the tallest player in the squad. Sam made the most of his opportunity by being named in the top three best players in each of the three matches resulting in an invitation to play for the Eagles under 17s. Sam’s ability to play his best football at representative level saw him capitalise on that lucky break and push his career into the right direction.

After only one year with the Ardrossan under 17s, Sam began playing under 17s with Woodville West Torrens in 2004. He finished runner up for the Eagles best and fairest by one vote. Sam even managed to return home to Ardrossan for a weekend to play his one and only A grade game for them against Moonta. Ardrossan won the YPFL flag in 2004 and Sam was grateful to play his debut game in a premiership season.

Sam finished third in the Eagles under 17s best and fairest in 2005 after only playing 12 games as he had played a number of under 19 games as well. His good form saw him also finish sixth in the SANFL under 17 McCallum medal. Sam was selected in the under 18 academy squad in 2006 and he represented South Australia at the under 18 national championships. He played reserves in the early part of the 2006 season before being promoted to the league side where he played 13 consecutive games. Sam was greatly disappointed to be dropped after the Eagles lost a qualifying final and could not regain his place before Woodville West Torrens took out the 2006 SANFL premiership.

Sam was selected in the under 17 country championships for Woodville West Torrens who won the grand final with Sam named in the team of the carnival. Sam eagerly awaited the 2006 AFL National Draft, he had trained with North Melbourne in the lead up after they had told him they would take him at number 3 in the Rookie Draft. However Carlton jumped the gun and drafted him at pick one.

Sam remained on the Carlton rookie list for three years before making his AFL debut in 2009. He would go on to play 17 games for the Blues before being traded to the Adelaide Crows in 2011. Sam has now played 157 games for Adelaide and is recognised as one of the AFL’s best performed ruckman.

On the eve of the 2017 finals series, Sam was mourning the tragic passing of his older brother Aaron. Sam used the memory of his brother as inspiration to lift his game to the next level during the Crows three finals matches. Sam had an outstanding major round for the Crows, dominating at ruck contests and around the ground. Despite the shattering disappointment of the grand final loss, Sam could hold his head high as one of the few Crows players to perform at their best.

Despite the lure of the ‘bright lights’ of the AFL, Sam has remained respectful of where he came from and those who gave him the opportunity to play football. Sam is a sponsor of the Ardrossan Football Club and helps out where he can with the club. Sam’s wife Izzy is the A grade netball coach at Ardrossan and it is his aim to return there one day to finish his career. He is hopeful that his second game for Ardrossan in A grade will also be in a premiership year.