Sam Flanders

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.

Early life Flanders was born in Fish Creek, Victoria. 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.

AFL career Flanders 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. After the 2025 season finished Flanders told the Suns of his desire to be traded elsewhere for the upcoming 2026 season. This came after weeks of speculation with links to a trade back to Victoria. He ultimately requested a trade to , and was traded on 8 October.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

101 !! 38 !! 24 !! 1068 !! 976 !! 2044 !! 415 !! 273 !! 0.4 !! 0.2 !! 10.6 !! 9.7 !! 20.2 !! 4.1 !! 2.7 !! 16