Sam Naismith

Sam Naismith (born 16 July 1992) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Sydney and Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life and junior football Naismith was born in Narrabri, New South Wales but moved to Gunnedah with his family at a young age. He grew up playing rugby league and supported the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League. He first played Australian rules football at the age of 16 when a school friend convinced him to take part in a few training sessions with the Gunnedah Bulldogs. A year later, as a 17-year-old, he was named joint best and fairest winner of the Tamworth Australian Football League in 2009. By 2011 Naismith was ready to quit Aussie rules and move to Sydney to play rugby union until then-Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos called him and invited him to join the Swans' talent academy. Naismith accepted the invitation and began playing for the North Shore Bombers in the Sydney AFL competition in 2012. By the end of the season he was rookie drafted by the Swans.

AFL & VFL career Naismith made his debut for the Swans in the final round of 2014 season against Richmond. Naismith assumed the ruck duties alone that day as Mike Pyke and Tom Derickx, alternative ruck options, were both injured.

In December 2022, Naismith was delisted by the Swans and signed by VFL side Port Melbourne Football Club. He played for Port Melbourne during the 2023 season. In November 2023, Naismith signed with as a delisted free agent after the club traded their back-up ruckman Ivan Soldo to Port Adelaide during the trade period.

Naismith announced his retirement from football on 21 August 2024.

Coaching career On 18 October 2024, it was announced that Naismith had joined Fremantle Football Club as a ruck & development coach.

Statistics

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