# Sam Day (Australian rules footballer)

Sam Day (born 6 September 1992) is an professional Australian rules footballer who plays for 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. 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 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. 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, which ultimately resulted in him missing the entire 2017 season.
Day was not offered a contract by the Gold Coast suns for the 2025 season. It was later reported that the Brisbane Lions were considering signing Day as a potential replacement for the recently retired Joe Daniher. This was confirmed when the Lions picked up Day in the Pre-Season draft.

## Statistics

    Statistics are correct to the end of 2024
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Averages (per game) | Votes |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | Votes |
| 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 | 1.1 | 44 | 0.4 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 11.6 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 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 | |
| Career | Career | Career | 155 | 117 | 72 | 787 | 687 | 1474 | 550 | 279 | 431 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 5.1 | 4.4 | 9.5 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 5 |
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.