He has been involved with the Giants through their academy programs since he was 13, now 17 year old Marist college student Sam Fisher is determined to do everything in his power to take the next step and realise his AFL dream.
by Lucas O'Neill, AFL Canberra Journalist
Fisher spent his junior years playing for Ainslie and Eastlake but after starting school at Marist College, he has spent the previous two seasons playing for Marist in their under 18’s side.
However such is the talent of the young midfielder he was approached by Ainslie at the beginning of 2015 and offered a rookie contract for the 2015 NEAFL season.
This was an offer to good to refuse and after completing a senior pre-season Fisher spent the first five rounds playing for Ainslie’s AFL Canberra First Grade side.
“It was really challenging the first couple of games, [in first grade] with the bigger bodies and it’s obviously a lot faster and the skill level is higher [than under 18s]" Fisher said.
“I feel like now I have found my feet a little bit, I have gradually learnt to compete with the bigger bodies I guess,"
“I have learnt that you just have to will yourself to go in a little bit harder because you just know that they [the opposition] are going to go in harder as well,"
“You definitely have to run harder to find the footy, not only on game day but even training, it’s definitely a lot more intense then under 18s.”
The NSW/ACT under 18 Rams coaches clearly agreed that Fisher was competing well at senior level selecting him to play a TAC cup game for the Rams as a bottom age player.
“It was a big step up [playing TAC cup] it was very fast and there were a lot of structures that I needed to know,"
“Purely the speed of the game and the fact that everyone playing is vying for that spot at the national level and trying to get drafted makes it very competitive.”
Fisher believes that spending time around a senior group of players at Ainslie has really helped him fast track his learning in all areas of football.
“I have learnt a lot being a part of a senior football club, there are a lot of players not only in our first grade team but in the NEAFL as well who have taught me lots.
“Jordy Harper is a really great trainer and does everything to the best of his ability, he is definitely someone I aspire to train like, Fisher said.
“Jimmy Rice is someone who I find very inspiring to play with, he is always up for the contest and he always looks after you, he is definitely someone who always leads from the front not only with his voice but his actions as well.”
Fisher admits that playing AFL has been something he has always aspired to do but is also realistic and knows it would take an incredible amount of work to reach that level.
“Obviously playing AFL has always been the childhood dream, but it’s a very hard thing to achieve there are a lot of boys out there trying to achieve the same thing.
“ I am an under ager in the under 18s [Rams] this year so hopefully next year I can play the majority of the game and improve on my fitness and strength so I can hopefully have a look in with the Giants, or any AFL club for that matter.”
“My goal at the moment is to just try and play consistent senior footy and hopefully if I continue to do that I might get a chance to play NEAFL at some stage which would be great.”
Fisher and all of his Ainslie team mates will have to be at the top of their game this Saturday when they take on the undefeated Belconnen Magpies.
“They [Belconnen] are the best team in the comp at the moment they haven’t lost a game, their mature bodies inside to contest and their spread on the outside is very good, Fisher said.
“I think that we need to really work on shutting them down when they get a role on, if we can nail down all of those little key defensive elements then I think we can really take it to them.”
Photo: Courtesy of ainsliefootball.com.au
Last Modified on 26/06/2015 12:28