Sam Wicks

Sam Wicks (born 14 September 1999) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected by the Sydney Swans as a Category B rookie from the NSW zone.^[1]

Sam Wicks
Wicks in July 2019
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Wicksy, Candles
Date of birth	(1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Manly, New South Wales
Original team(s)	Sydney Swans (NEAFL)/ Manly Warringah Giants
Draft	2018 Category B Rookie Selection
Debut	6 August 2020, Sydney vs. Collingwood, at The Gabba
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Sydney
Number	45
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2019–	Sydney	59 (42)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 11, 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early football

Wicks played junior football for the Manly Bombers and Manly Warringah Wolves.^[2][3] In 2010, Wicks joined the Sydney Swans Academy. In June 2017, Wicks earned a Rising Star nomination in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL).^[4]

AFL career

2020 season: debut

Wicks was elevated to Sydney's senior list in June 2020, alongside teammate Barry O'Connor.^[5] Wicks debuted in Sydney's 9 point loss to Collingwood in Round 10 of the 2020 AFL season.^[2][6][7] In his first game, Wicks picked up 1 goal, 9 disposals, 1 mark and 6 tackles.^[8] On his debut, Wicks was involved with a controversy surrounding the material of his boots after Collingwood player Isaac Quaynor sustained a large gash on his leg while attempting to tackle Wicks. The steel studs on the boots Wicks was wearing for the match were ruled as non-league compliant. Neither Sydney or Wicks were sanctioned, but were given a warning.^[9][10]

2021 season

Wicks quickly took his performances up a notch from the previous season, averaging 15.3 disposals and 2 goals a game after just three games. He had his breakout performance in Round 3, where he kicked 3 goals and 2 behinds, as well as collecting 21 disposals,^[11] in what was to be a game that saw him named best on ground, receiving the 10 AFLCA votes for that round.^[12]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2022 season.^[13]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2019	Sydney	45	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2020[a]	Sydney	45	7	3	1	31	27	58	15	32	0.4	0.1	4.4	3.9	8.3	2.1	4.6
2021	Sydney	45	22	17	18	143	102	245	65	89	0.7	0.8	6.5	4.6	11.1	2.9	4.0
2022	Sydney	15	10	4	4	43	48	91	21	25	0.4	0.4	4.3	4.8	9.1	2.1	2.5
Career			39	24	23	217	177	394	101	146	0.6	0.6	5.6	4.5	10.1	2.6	3.7

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.