FOOTBALL
SANFL
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
IT’S bigger than a game.
Newborough’s Sam Skinner has been forced to hang up the boots, following medical advise regarding concussion concerns.
The South Australian National Football League player fronted his South Adelaide teammates last week.
After repeated head knocks and multiple major injuries throughout the course of his AFL and SANFL career, Skinner called time on a journey that began when he was drafted to the Brisbane Lions back in 2015 out of Gippsland Power.
Now retired from all contact sport, or otherwise be at risk of further brain trauma, Skinner’s final straw came during the Panthers’ Round 1 match against Woodville-West Torrens, where he suffered a concussion and fractured eye socket.
“The last few weeks, I’ve done a few tests … neuro physio and brain scans, and everything looks really good and positive,” he said.
“I am very fortunate that I’m still healthy after so many concussions.
“The risk that footy gives me is it just exposes me to maybe getting another one, and if I got another maybe I won’t be in that fortunate scenario.”
Skinner went on to say that it wasn’t necessarily how he pictured his career ending, but that it was no longer in his hands whether to continue or not.
His time in the game began at the Newborough Junior Football Club, playing one senior match for Moe in the Gippsland League between duties with Gippsland Power, before being taken at Pick 47 to the Lions in the 2015 AFL Draft.
Skinner reflected on his early years at Newborough in his final address to South Adelaide.
“My journey started at Newborough footy club, I just remember going to footy and my dad (Craig) was coaching seniors … all I wanted to do was be like my dad,” he said.
“I got to play juniors at the club that he played for, before moving on to playing at Moe.
“(Moe’s league) was a bit of a tougher league and it started inspiring me to maybe playing at a higher level when I got to under 16s.”
After a number of major setbacks, particularly involving serious knee injuries both before and after he was drafted, Skinner made his debut for Brisbane in Round 19, 2017 against the West Coast Eagles at the old Subiaco Oval.
Booting two goals and nailing a crunching tackle on future Eagles premiership defender, Will Schofield (who played a Carlton Draft game for Hill End last season), marked scenes that officially saw Skinner arrive into the big time.
However, more injury troubles followed, all while Brisbane began to surge up the ladder, and after featuring in two more games in 2020, Skinner was delisted at the end of the COVID-stricken season.
He then joined South Adelaide for the 2021 SANFL season, immediately making an impact for the Panthers as they reached the preliminary final.
“It was probably the most memorable year of footy I’ve ever had,” Skinner said.
“Coming off a list and just being in a family environment again, it just reminded me of (being) back at home.”
Following this, Skinner earned a spot on Port Adelaide’s AFL list, playing in two early matches against Hawthorn and in a showdown against Adelaide in 2022.
Returning to South Adelaide after being delisted again, Skinner served as co-captain for two seasons, in 2024 and 2025.
Summing up his time in the game, Skinner remained positive and grateful.
“Upon reflection of my journey, it became clear to me, the positives far outweigh the negatives,” he said.
“The relationships I’ve built, the experiences I’ve had, and the knowledge I’ve gained over this journey have all played a part in shaping who I am today.
“Footy in particular has opened up so many doors that just wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t make it to these sorts of levels and be with the people that I’ve been with over these years.
“Those experiences, connections and lessons are going to have a lasting impact on my life.”
Skinner played 86 SANFL games, 72 with South Adelaide and 14 for Port Adelaide.
Gippsland League best-and-fairest and Moe’s Riley Baldi, made the move to South Adelaide ahead of this season to play with Skinner.
The issue of concussion has been a massive concern, particularly for the AFL, in recent years.
More than 500 AFL players are no longer covered by insurance for brain injuries in their superannuation, as Zurich Insurance cut the ability to claim for concussion and head trauma as of May 1.
For those who have suffered repeated head knocks, such as Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Liberatore, they now risk millions of dollars if they elect to step onto the field even once more.
