Sam Switkowski

Sam Switkowski
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Switkowski
Nickname(s)	Switta
Date of birth	(1996-11-20) 20 November 1996 (age 27)
Original team(s)	Box Hill Hawks (VFL)
Draft	No. 73, 2017 national draft
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	74 kg (163 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2018–	Fremantle	88 (55)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Career highlights
Beacon Award winner: 2019
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Sam Switkowski (born 20 November 1996) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Switkowski attended school at Eltham College. He played for the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup Under 18s competition, winning their best and fairest award in 2014. However, he was overlooked in the 2014 AFL draft and joined the Box Hill Hawks Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He again missed selection in the 2015 and 2016 drafts, but was recruited by Fremantle with their second last selection, 73rd overall, in the 2017 AFL draft. ^[1]

AFL career

Despite having an interrupted first season at Fremantle due to hamstring injuries, Switkowski made his AFL debut in Round 21 of the 2018 AFL season, against Carlton at Etihad Stadium. A small forward known for his tackling and other pressure acts, he has been compared to his former Fremantle teammate Hayden Ballantyne. ^[2] Switkowski missed the 2020 AFL season due to sustaining a stress fracture in his back.

In 2022, he was ranked the number one small forward in the league for forward half pressure points per game (37.7) by Champion Data, and the third best small forward for tackles per game. ^[3] Switkowski signed a contract extension during the 2022 AFL season tying him to the club until at least 2024. ^[4] Following the 2022 season Switkowski was promoted to Fremantle's leadership group. ^[5]

Sam had a standout performance in round three of the 2023 AFL season, collecting 21 disposals, 10 score involvements and kicking two goals. ^[6] Switkowski was a major contributor in round 20 during Fremantle's 7 point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park, collecting 17 disposals, six score involvements and kicking a goal. ^[7]

Switkowski made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of 2024 AFL season against the Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium. He kicked Fremantle's second goal of the game and finished with twelve disposals, a game-high three inside-50s, six score involvements and nine tackles. ^[8] He collected eight disposals, nine tackles and kicked a goal the following week against North Melbourne. Arguably his best game of the season so far was against Melbourne in round 13 at Traeger Park in Alice Springs. Switkowski finished the match with a career-high 25 disposals, 401 metres gained, eight marks, five clearances, six inside 50’s, four-goal assists and a goal in what was a 92 point drubbing over the Demons. ^[9]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024 ^[10]

Legend

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

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2018	Fremantle	39	2	1	1	16	14	30	8	6	0.5	0.5	8.0	7.0	15.0	4.0	3.0	0
2019	Fremantle	39	18	6	3	89	116	205	45	89	0.3	0.2	4.9	6.4	11.4	2.5	4.9	0
2020 [lower-alpha 1]	Fremantle	39	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
2021	Fremantle	39	12	9	9	79	67	146	36	32	0.8	0.8	6.6	5.6	12.2	3.0	2.7	1
2022	Fremantle	39	14	11	6	79	122	201	23	63	0.7	0.4	5.6	8.7	14.3	1.6	4.5	0
2023	Fremantle	39	22	16	9	134	174	308	58	89	0.7	0.4	6.0	7.9	14.0	2.6	4.0	1
2024	Fremantle	39	20	12	10	130	159	289	63	101	0.6	0.5	6.5	7.9	14.4	3.2	5.0
Career			88	55	38	527	652	1179	233	379	0.63	0.43	5.99	7.41	13.40	2.65	4.31	2

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. Edwards, Nat (6 December 2017). "Last-minute Sam: VFL gun's draft night drama - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
2. Lacy, Bridget (10 August 2018). "Dockers name Switkowski as eighth debutant". The West Australian. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
3. Smith, Ben (2 September 2022). "Fremantle Dockers forward Sam Switkowski can be matchwinner in elimination final against the Western Bulldogs". The West Australian .
4. "A new deal for Freo's elite!" . Retrieved 11 July 2022.
5. Schmook, Nathan. "Pearce named new Dockers captain, young guns as deputies" . Retrieved 31 May 2023.
6. Schmook, Nathan (2 April 2023). "Demolition Derby: Dockers, injuries too much for decimated Eagles". afl.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
7. Welsh, Sophie. "Dockers shock has Cats' flag defence hanging by a thread". afl.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
8. Sweeney, Paddy (21 March 2023). "The gut-busting play that sparked Fremantle's comeback win". watoday.com.
9. "Fremantle forwards fire on all cylinders for record win".
10. "Sam Switkowski". AFL Tables. Retrieved 26 May 2022.}

External links

• Sam Switkowski's profile on the official website of the Fremantle Football Club
• Sam Switkowski's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Sam Switkowski at AustralianFootball.com
• WAFL playing statistics