Joel Amartey Explained

Joel Amartey
Fullname:Joel Amartey
Birth Date:2 September 1999
Birth Place:Beaumaris, Victoria
Originalteam:Sandringham Dragons (NAB League)
Draftpick:No. 28, 2018 AFL rookie draft,
Debutdate:13 September 2020
Debutstadium:Cazaly's Stadium
Height:197 cm
Weight:98 kg
Position:Forward
Guernsey:36
Years1:2018–
Games Goals1:49 (67)
Statsend:round 23, 2024

Joel Amartey (born 2 September 1999) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL) after the St. Kilda saints chose not to match an NGA bid on him. He was recruited by the Sydney Swans with the 28th draft pick in the 2018 AFL rookie draft.[1] [2] [3]

Early football

Amartey was born in Australia to a father who had migrated from Ghana. As a child, he played soccer, but quit after experiencing racial abuse, moving instead to basketball and later to Australian rules.[4] He played junior football for the Beaumaris Football Club in the South Metro Junior Football League, alongside many of his future teammates at the Swans such as Callum Sinclair and Oliver Florent.[5] [6] Amartey and Florent also played football together on the same school team at Mentone Grammar.[7] He played for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League, playing 14 games and kicking 9 goals over the course of the 2017 season.[8] Amartey had the opportunity to win the grand final for the Dragons in their premiership match against the Geelong Falcons as he marked in front of goal with seconds left, meaning he had to kick a goal after the siren. However, he missed the shot, and the Dragons lost by two points.[9] [10]

AFL career

Amartey was likely to make his AFL debut in July 2020, but suffered a groin injury in a scratch match and was unable to debut for the Swans.[11] Amartey debuted in 's 32 point loss to in the 17th round of the 2020 AFL season.[12] [13] On debut, Amartey collected 3 disposals, 8 hitouts, and 2 tackles.[14] Amartey was upgraded from the rookie list at the conclusion of the season.[15]

In Round 5 of the 2023 AFL season Amartey pulled his hamstring while running towards the forward line. Amartey immediately got subbed out of the game.

In 2024, he scored a career best 9 goals during the last three quarters of Sydney's Round 14 clash against the Adelaide Crows.

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 6, 2023.[16] |-| 2018 || || 46| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|-| 2019 || || 46| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|-| 2020 || || 46| 1 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 2 || 8 || 0.0|| 0.0 || 3.0 || 0.0 || 3.0 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 8.0|-| 2021 || || 36| 6 || 5 || 3 || 38 || 17 || 55 || 16 || 23 || 49 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 6.3 || 2.8 || 9.2 || 2.7 || 3.8 || 8.2|-| 2022 || || 36| 6 || 5 || 3 || 29 || 14 || 43 || 12 || 14 || 18 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 4.8 || 2.3 || 7.2 || 2.0 || 2.3 || 3.0|-| 2023 || || 36| 4 || 6 || 6 || 24 || 12 || 36 || 19 || 3 || 14 || 1.5 || 1.5 || 6.0 || 3.0 || 9.0 || 4.7 || 0.7 || 3.5 |- class=sortbottom! colspan=3 | Career! 17 !! 16 !! 12 !! 94 !! 43 !! 137 !! 47 !! 42 !! 89 !! 0.9 !! 0.7 !! 5.5 !! 2.5 !! 8.0 !! 2.7 !! 2.4 !! 5.2|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rookie Draft #28: Joel Amartey. Sydney Swans Media. 27 November 2017. 6 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Amartey looks forward. Guthrie. Ben. 4 December 2017. Sydney Swans Media. 6 October 2020.
  3. Web site: AFL preseason and rookie drafts. News.com.au. 27 November 2017. McKern. James. 6 October 2020.
  4. Web site: How racial abuse led Joel Amartey to his AFL debut. 23 April 2021.
  5. Web site: 'Beauie Boys' strut their stuff for Sydney Swans. subscription. Herald Sun. 6 October 2020.
  6. Web site: Two further SMJFL alumni find their way onto AFL lists. 28 November 2017. South Metro Junior Football League. 6 October 2020.
  7. Web site: Amartey stoked to sign. Gates. Zachary. 11 June 2018. 6 October 2020. Sydney Swans Media.
  8. Web site: Joel Amartey. 6 October 2020. Aussie Rules Draft Central.
  9. Web site: Swans rookie puts Grand Final miss behind him. Guthrie. Ben. 3 December 2017. AFL Media. 6 October 2020.
  10. Web site: Video: Geelong wins the TAC Cup grand final after Sandringham's Joel Amartey misses a post-siren shot. Fox Sports. 25 September 2017. 6 October 2020.
  11. Web site: Injury-hit Swans at a loss as AFL confirm no mid-year draft or loans. 7 July 2020. The Age. Rugari. Vince. 6 October 2020.
  12. Web site: TEAM: Amartey to debut among four changes. 12 September 2020. Sydney Swans Media. 6 October 2020.
  13. Web site: Longmire lifted by Swans' AFL development. Macquarie Port News. 14 September 2020. 6 October 2020. Hope. Shayne.
  14. Web site: Round 17 • Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions - Player Stats. 6 October 2020.
  15. Web site: UPDATE: Locked and loaded: What your club's 2021 list will look like. 27 November 2020. Cleary. Mitch. 29 November 2020. AFL Media.
  16. Web site: Joel Amartey. AFL Tables. 13 November 2020.