Sam Day (Australian footballer)

This article is about the Australian rules footballer. For other uses, see Sam Day.

Sam Day
Day playing for Gold Coast in May 2019
Personal information
Full name Sam Day
Born (1992-09-06) 6 September 1992
Adelaide, South Australia
Original team Sturt (SANFL)
Draft No. 3, 2010 National draft, Gold Coast
No. 2, 2023 pre-season draft (Gold Coast)
No. 2, 2024 pre-season draft (Brisbane Lions)
Debut Round 7, 2011, Gold Coast vs. Brisbane Lions, at the Gabba
Height 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 102 kg (225 lb)
Position Key Forward / Ruckman
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2011–2024 Gold Coast 155 (117)
2025 Brisbane Lions 13 (3)
Total 168 (120)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2025.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Sam Day (born 6 September 1992) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Day was born in Adelaide, South Australia. His grandfather Ian Day and great-uncle Robert Day both had long SANFL careers, while his uncle Tim Day represented the Australian national baseball team. Sam Day grew up playing a variety of sports and by high school he continued to play football, baseball and basketball at a high level. He attended Prince Alfred College throughout his schooling years and was forced to choose between baseball and basketball college offers in the United States or nominating for the AFL's national draft.[1][2] After a strong final year with Sturt in the SANFL and an All-Australian selection at the Under 18 national championships, Day settled on football. He was selected by the Gold Coast with the third pick in the 2010 national draft. Day is cousins with Hawthorn player, Will Day.

AFL career

Day made his AFL debut for the Gold Coast Suns against the Brisbane Lions[3] in round 7 of the 2011 season. He kicked a career high four goals against Collingwood in 2014.

In 2016, with the Suns' list severely impacted by injury, coach Rodney Eade moved Day into defence where he proved to be an effective tall defender.[4] He was expected to return to the forward line in 2017, but suffered a serious hip injury in the pre-season clash against the Brisbane Lions,[5] which ultimately resulted in him missing the entire 2017 season.[6]

Day was not offered a contract by the Gold Coast suns for the 2025 season.[7] It was later reported that the Brisbane Lions were considering signing Day as a potential replacement for the recently retired Joe Daniher.[8] This was confirmed when the Lions picked up Day in the Pre-Season draft.[9]

Day played 13 games for his new club in 2025. He was omitted from the team following his first final, which was the qualifying final against Geelong.[10] Unfortunately Day did not return to the team before Brisbane won the premiership a few weeks later over the same opponent. He retired from the AFL following the conclusion of the season.[11]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2025[12]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
H/O
 Hit-outs
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2011 Gold Coast 39 7 2 5 20 32 52 18 4 2 0.3 0.7 2.9 4.6 7.4 2.6 0.6 0.3 0
2012 Gold Coast 12 15 10 10 56 65 121 46 16 16 0.7 0.7 3.7 4.3 8.1 3.1 1.1 1.1 0
2013 Gold Coast 12 20 12 8 112 93 205 72 35 36 0.6 0.4 5.6 4.7 10.3 3.6 1.8 1.8 0
2014 Gold Coast 12 22 19 9 133 93 226 74 38 120 0.9 0.4 6.0 4.2 10.3 3.4 1.7 5.5 2
2015 Gold Coast 12 14 8 2 64 52 116 45 25 26 0.6 0.1 4.6 3.7 8.3 3.2 1.8 1.9 0
2016 Gold Coast 12 20 14 12 127 103 230 88 55 26 0.7 0.6 6.4 5.2 11.5 4.4 2.8 1.3 1
2017 Gold Coast 12 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
2018 Gold Coast 12 12 9 5 61 57 118 40 28 51 0.8 0.4 5.1 4.8 9.8 3.3 2.3 4.3 0
2019 Gold Coast 12 10 11 4 61 55 116 50 21 44 1.1 0.4 6.1 5.5 11.6 5.0 2.1 4.4 0
2020[a] Gold Coast 12 17 12 7 68 79 147 47 21 54 0.7 0.4 4.0 4.6 8.6 2.8 1.2 3.2 2
2021 Gold Coast 12 6 3 4 26 27 53 23 17 23 0.5 0.7 4.3 4.5 8.8 3.8 2.8 3.8 0
2022 Gold Coast 12 4 6 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
2023 Gold Coast 12 3 1 1 13 6 19 10 5 2 0.3 0.3 4.3 2.0 6.3 3.3 1.7 0.7 0
2024 Gold Coast 12 5 10 4 27 18 45 27 9 25 2.0 0.8 5.4 3.6 9.0 5.4 1.8 5.0 0
2025 Brisbane Lions 14 13 3 4 61 43 104 41 23 93 0.2 0.3 4.7 3.3 8.0 3.2 1.8 7.2 0
Career 168 120 76 848 730 1578 591 302 524 0.7 0.5 5.1 4.4 9.4 3.5 1.8 3.1 5

Notes

  1. ^ 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

  1. ^ US options for talented young gun Sam Day
  2. ^ Australia's most wanted athlete Sam Day
  3. ^ Smart, Nick (9 May 2011), "Rivals learn the hard way to show a little respect", The Gold Coast Bulletin
  4. ^ "Player Profile: Sam Day". Gold Coast Suns Football Club. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  5. ^ Bowen, Nick. "Injury Update: Sam Day". Gold Coast Suns Football Club. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  6. ^ Whiting, Michael. "Season over for Sun after hip surgery". Afl.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. ^ "End of the Day: Inaugural Sun Sam Day not offered new deal". Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Rival's shock play for Pies flag hero; Lions eye axed veteran to fill Daniher void — Trade Whispers".
  9. ^ "Hawks re-draft flag hero, Lions pick ex-Sun, 11 new rookies taken". afl.com.au. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ Sutton, Ben (11 September 2025). "AFL teams: Lions axe Sam Day for cut-throat semi-final against Suns, Hawks recall Mitch Lewis". Seven Network.
  11. ^ "Brisbane Lions List Management Update". lions.com.au. 2 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Sam Day". AFL Tables. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
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