At the heart of every country town is a football club, and at that club is a boy with a dream of wanting to play on football's biggest stage.

For Sam Banks, he turned that dream into a reality.

Hailing from Whitefoord in regional Tasmania, a town with a population of approximately 60 people, Banks grew up with a footy in his hand and quickly rose through the national ranks.

However, Banks' story started on his family's farm where he learned the ropes from his grandpa and uncle. 

“My pop and uncle own a farm in the area, and a lot of my mates are still involved with it down there,” Banks said.

“I went out on the farm with pop when I was younger, but as I got older, it was pretty much all footy.

“They weren’t too keen on me staying there, they were pretty happy for me to concentrate on my footy and college and things like that.”

It wasn’t too long before Banks knew he wanted to pursue football at the highest level, however, that meant leaving his love for cricket behind.

“It was probably pretty early on, I loved the game ever since I can remember, I had the footy in my hands the whole time,” Banks said.

“I also played a bit of cricket growing up, so I was balancing between footy and cricket until probably Under 15's.

“I went away and played cricket for Tassie in Under 15's, and it was probably after that carnival that I enjoyed footy more.”

Banks spent the majority of his junior playing career between the Sorell Football Club and Central Hawks in the Midlands of Tasmania, where he quickly rose through the ranks.

It wasn’t until he made the move to Clarence Football Club in Tasmania’s State League competition that he was put on the radar - the same Club where Richmond great Jack Riewoldt used to play.

“I started at Sorell Junior Football Club when I was six and then I went to a little club called Central Hawks, which was in the Midlands for a few years,” Banks said.  

“It was around then when a few of the coaches started saying that I should be with a State League affiliated club, and that’s when I moved to Clarence, when I was 13 and played the rest of my juniors there."

Known for his reputable character and maturity, in combination with his elite football ability, Banks was made the captain of the Tasmanian Devils from Under 16's to Under 18's.

Here, Banks developed the leadership characteristics that he has brought with him to Punt Road, but it wasn’t without facing adversity along the way, having suffered from a broken wrist in his draft year. 

“I got to captain the Under 15's and 16's, and then Under 18's was a little bit different,” Banks said. 

“I broke my wrist in the third game of that year, so I only got to lead the team out a couple of times, but throughout it all, I tried to keep myself around the group.

“I would travel with the group and things like that just to enhance leadership, but it was a massive privilege to captain Tassie back then.

“It’s something that I look back on fondly.”

Forced to spend time on the sidelines after electing to get surgery on his wrist in 2021, Banks admitted that he thought his dream of playing AFL might have slipped through the cracks come draft night.

“I had a good Under 16's carnival and then COVID hit, and in my Under 18's I was pretty much injured straightaway,” Banks said. 

“I was probably lucky that I was playing one of my best games. I did it just after three-quarter time, but from then on, I had a lot of trouble with it during that year.

“I didn’t think I would have to have surgery, and then some stuff went wrong, and I had surgery. That held me back a bit playing-wise, and I was definitely worried at the end of the year."

A resilient and determined 18-year-old Banks started to prepare for a life if football didn’t come knocking, harrowing in on his academic pursuits.

“I put all my eggs in one basket, trying to get drafted, so I kind of had to concentrate on my year 11 and 12 stuff,” Banks said. 

“I got college as good as I could and made sure that my off-field stuff was good, and went from there."

Despite a minor setback, Banks earned his spot on an AFL list when Richmond drafted him in 2021 with the 29^th overall pick.

Officially a Richmond man, Banks packed his bags and headed to the mainland, following in the footsteps of Richmond legend, Royce Hart, who grew up in the same town as Banks, living only 150 meters down the street from him.

Hart is regarded as one of the game’s greatest centre half-forwards, having gone on to become a four-time VFL premiership player and taking home the Club's prestigious Jack Dyer Medal twice.

Like his fellow neighbour, Banks hopes to create a legacy of his own at the Club, but admitted it has been nice to share the field with his fellow statesmen. 

“I remember back then when Brendon Gale was still the CEO, Toby (Nankervis) was the captain and Jack Riewoldt was still here, we had a really good contingent of Tassie boys and I felt like I fitted in really well,” Banks said. 

“I lived with Mans (Rhyan Mansell) for probably my first three years at the footy Club.

“That was the first message I got on draft night was from Mans saying ‘mate, move in with me’ and yeah, we made a pretty strong bond from my first year onwards.”

In his first year with the Club, Banks worked hard to condition himself for the elite level, all while recovering from his wrist injury.

He represented the VFL side in 17 games across the 2022 season, having an instant impact within the Club both on and off the field.

Staying true to the course, Banks went on to earn his AFL debut the following year in Round 17 of the 2023 season.

That special debut was made alongside now-housemate and current teammate, Jacob Bauer.

“I didn’t crack in my first year, I was sort of just trying to learn the system and learn the way to go about things at the footy Club,” Banks said.

“It took until just after the bye in my second year, where I played my first game. I put in a lot of work and had to get my body right and a few areas of my game.

“I think it was Buddy’s last game in Melbourne, so it was a pretty big crowd, and it was also Bowser's (Jacob Bauer) first game as well, so I got to debut with him.

“Now he is my housemate, so looking back on it, it was pretty special and I think I had 44 people fly over from Tassie to come over and watch, so that was awesome as well.”

Banks has gone on to feature in all 11 games this year, having one of his best seasons to date, averaging 19 disposals per game with 380 meters gained.

Now in his fourth year at Richmond, Banks has taken his game to a new level, coming into strong form across the half-back line and on the wing.

“I think each week, I’m feeling more and more comfortable,” Banks said.

“All of the coaches have been really good. Steve Morris and Blake Caracella, who has come in this year, have been awesome.

“Each week, I feel like I’m growing and getting better, as is the team as well.

“You know a lot of people wrote us off at the start of the year, but we have come out with three wins and have pretty much been in it every game, so it has been awesome to see the growth amongst the group.”

Although Banks is only 31 games into his AFL career, the now 22-year-old is already embracing being a leader for some of the first-year players.

“Ever since they came in, they have provided a massive spark to the group,” Banks said.

“They all fit in absolutely seamlessly, and I think it gives a massive spark to the older boys as well, seeing them come in and excel at the level.

“Myself, Rhyan Mansell, and Tom Brown, between us, we try and show as much leadership within that group as we can.

“We take it upon ourselves to lead the way amongst the young boys, and being around to see some of the leadership group stuff this year has been awesome.”