SAM MAYES will make his Port Adelaide debut against Carlton on Sunday after patiently waiting for his opportunity.
The 26-year-old, who was traded to Alberton from Brisbane in the 2018 AFL trade period, has played 20 SANFL games for the club since arriving and been an AFL emergency several times, but will finally get his chance against the Blues at the Gabba, a venue he knows well from his time with the Lions.
So, who is Sam Mayes?
A highly rated junior, there was an expectation that Mayes would land at Alberton when Port Adelaide had its first selection at pick 7 in the 2012 AFL National Draft. Instead he fell to pick 8 and was claimed by Brisbane. Six years on, Sam Mayes finally made his way to Alberton.
So impressive in his junior years was Mayes that he was an All-Australian as a bottom-ager in 2011, and then as the South Australian Under 18 vice-captain in 2012 he was unlucky to miss out on the honour again.
That year he managed 22 league games for North Adelaide in the SANFL, booting 21 goals along the way. He was then known for having one of the best kicks in his draft year and a strong mark.
Mayes followed a reasonable line of talent from Port Pirie with Mark Jamar (Melbourne), Mark Bickley (Adelaide) and Lewis Johnston (Sydney and Adelaide) among others to make the grade from the “friendly city”.
His father is a former champion runner who worked at the Port Pirie smelter and while he has always been a South Australian, Mayes admits he was a Melbourne Demons supporter growing up.
Drafted as a classy lead-up forward straight out of Henley High School, at Brisbane Mayes quickly became renowned as a clever, poised hard-running defender.
He was an AFL Rising Star nominee in 2013, the same year he won the Brisbane Lions Rookie of the Year award and finished in the top-10 at the Best and Fairest count.
When five other young top-10 draft picks Brisbane players left’, Mayes stayed, vowing to accept the challenge facing the Lions.
He played his 100th game in 2018, a difficult year after having his best season in 2017.
Across his career, Mayes has averaged 17.4 disposals, 4.8 marks and 2.1 tackles per game.
He booted a career-high four goals against Geelong in Round 2 2014, and once took 12 marks against Carlton in Round 18, 2017.
While he has never been a prolific ball winner (his best haul in a single game was 29 disposals against Fremantle in 2017), Mayes is renowned as a good ball user who can read the play and spread the ball across the park.
Since landing at Port Adelaide, he has added some time as an inside midfielder as another string to his bow, having also played on a wing, off half back and across half forward.
His last AFL game was back in Round 14, 2018 when he had 18 disposals for Brisbane in a loss to Greater Western Sydney.
Coach Ken Hinkley said Mayes’ was a “really good story” and he had worked “really really hard and earned his opportunity”.
It’s been a big couple of weeks for Mayes, who announced last week that he and his partner Cassie Burton are expecting their first child in January.
Sam Mayes
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 86 kg
DOB: 20-05-1994
Junior Club: Port FC (Port Pirie)
Recruited from: North Adelaide (SANFL), Brisbane Lions
AFL games: 101
AFL goals: 26
