Bailey Banfield Explained

Bailey Banfield
Fullname:Bailey Banfield
Nickname:Banners
Birth Date:26 February 1998
Originalteam:Claremont (WAFL)
Draftpick:No. 5, 2018 rookie draft
Position:Midfielder, half-forward
Guernsey:41
Height:190 cm
Weight:92 kg
Years1:2018–
Games Goals1:93 (62)
Statsend:round 19, 2024
Careerhighlights:

Bailey Banfield (born 26 February 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Banfield grew up in Broome, Western Australia. He lived there until he finished Year 7 before moving to Perth to attend senior schooling at Scotch College.

AFL career

Overlooked in the 2016 AFL draft, Banfield played for Claremont in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), being a part of the Colts (WAFL) premiership side in 2015 and winning their 2017 best and fairest award.[1] He finished with 22 WAFL games for Claremont. He was then selected by Fremantle with their first selection, fifth overall, in the 2018 AFL rookie draft.[2] Banfield made his AFL debut for Fremantle in the opening round of the 2018 AFL season after a series of impressive pre-season games.[3] He signed a two-year contract extension during the season, tying him to Fremantle until 2020.

Banfield was elevated to Fremantle's senior list in 2019.[4] Banfield had a standout performance during round 12 of the 2022 AFL season kicking a career-high four goals during Fremantle's 14 point win over the .[5]

Banfield was named on the interchange bench for Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against the Brisbane Lions. He kicked Fremantle's first goal of the game as well as collecting 14 disposals during the 23 point come from behind win.[6] He was impactful the next week against at Marvel Stadium collecting 18 disposals and kicking two goals. His fine form throughout the season saw him ranked above average in almost every statistic. As of April 18th 2024, he was ranked the third best wingman in the league by Champion Data.[7] He primarily plays as a high forward but can seamlessly switch to the wing, providing strong support and run.

Personal life

In October 2023, Banfield announced his engagement to Julia Edwards.[8]

Statistics

AFL statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2023[9]

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018|| 41 || 20 || 5 || 5 || 162 || 129 || 291 || 65 || 81 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 8.1 || 6.5 || 14.6 || 3.3 || 4.1|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019|| 41 || 7 || 2 || 1 || 39 || 54 || 93 || 18 || 30 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 5.6 || 7.7 || 13.3 || 2.6 || 4.3|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2020|| 41 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 26 || 21 || 47 || 8 || 18 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 5.2 || 4.2 || 9.4 || 1.6 || 3.6|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021|| 41 || 6 || 4 || 2 || 29 || 27 || 56 || 12 || 14 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 4.8 || 4.5 || 9.3 || 2.0 || 2.3|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"| 2022 || || 41 | 23 || 18 || 14 || 102 || 41 || 143 || 46 || 26 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 4.4 || 1.7 || 6.2 || 2.0 || 1.1|- | 2023 || || 41| 14 || 11 || 9 || 89 || 71 || 160 || 41 || 16 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 6.4 || 5.1 || 11.4 || 2.9 || 1.1|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 75! 42! 31! 447! 343! 790! 190! 184! 0.6! 0.4! 6.0! 4.6! 10.5! 2.5! 2.5|}

WAFL statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2023|-| 2016 || Claremont || 51| 2 || 1 || 0 || 20 || 18 || 38 || 6 || 7 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 10.0 || 9.0 || 19.0 || 3.0 || 3.5 |-| 2017 || Claremont || 34| 20 || 4 || 5 || 322 || 162 || 484 || 80 || 112 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 16.1 || 8.1 || 24.2 || 4.0 || 5.6 |-| 2019 || Peel Thunder || 2/13| 11 || 9 || 4 || 191 || 99 || 290 || 46 || 79 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 17.3 || 9.0 || 26.3 || 4.1 || 7.1 |-| 2021 || Peel Thunder || 24| 6 || 7 || 8 || 49 || 27 || 76 || 22 || 24 || 1.1 || 1.3 || 8.1 || 4.5 || 12.6 || 3.6 || 4.0 |- | 2022 || Peel Thunder || 24| 3 || 3 || 5 || 16 || 10 || 26 || 9 || 9 || 1.0 || 1.6 || 5.3 || 3.3 || 8.6 || 3.0 || 3.0 |-| 2023 || Peel Thunder || 55/24| 3 || 6 || 4 || 36 || 9 || 45 || 17 || 16 || 2.0 || 1.3 || 12.0 || 3.0 || 15.0 || 5.7 || 5.3 |- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 45! 30! 26! 634! 325! 959! 180! 247! 0.7! 0.6! 14.1! 7.2! 21.3! 4.0! 5.5|}

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Banfield wins 2017 E.B Cook Medal. Claremont Football Club. 19 March 2018.
  2. News: Banfield pressing for shock round-one selection. 19 March 2018. The West Australian. 5 March 2018.
  3. News: First-year pair to get Freo debut. 19 March 2018. PerthNow. 19 March 2018.
  4. News: New deal, promotion for Dockers rookie. King. Travis. 2018-08-15. afl.com.au. 2018-08-15.
  5. News: Banfield’s day out a triumph for self-belief. 6 June 2022. en.
  6. News: ‘No chance for round one:’ How Freo’s unsung hero keeps surviving. eliza. reilly. 21 March 2023. codesports.com.
  7. News: Champion Data rates Bailey Banfield as third best wingman in the AFL in surprise stat. The West Australian. 18 April 2024. Jake. Santa Maria.
  8. Web site: Jones . Sam . 2023-10-19 . Banfield pops the question in New York . subscription . 2023-10-19 . Broome Advertiser . en.
  9. Web site: Bailey Banfield. AFL Tables. 26 May 2022. }