The improbable journey of mature-aged recruit Sam Davidson

With a series of key first team members absent, the Western Bulldogs’ supporting cast rallied to claim a major come-from-behind win against a struggling Blues side.

Amongst that supporting cast was 23-year-old Sam Davidson, the Dogs’ mature-aged recruit taken with pick 51 in the 2024 National Draft.

In just his third game of AFL football, Davidson led all players with 31 disposals, taking 10 marks and accruing seven score involvements while using the ball at over 80% efficiency.

Now averaging 19 touches at a highly efficient clip, Davidson has cemented his place in the Bulldogs’ first team, however his journey to reach AFL level defies the typical route.

Josh Gabelich spoke on his incredible story on SEN’s Crunch Time, highlighting his persistence to carry on both his football and his studies.

“Sam Davidson, what he did on Friday night deserves a bit more attention,” Gabelich said.

“I’m sure most footy fans are aware of who this guy is by now, but to think that a mature age recruit had 31 disposals, nearly 700 metres gained in just his third game under the bright lights of Friday night footy was quite incredible.

“This time last year he had never played state league footy, never been through the talent pathways, spent a lot of time playing country footy.

“It was not because he was chasing envelopes in the country, this was because he is studying medicine, and he was doing rural placements in country hospitals in Victoria.

“Just over 12 months ago he committed to playing VFL footy having one crack at potentially being drafted because he had shown a bit at country footy.

“By the mid-season draft, Essendon had met with him, the only club that met with him. They went with Saad El-Hawli instead.

“By the end of the year he had won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal for the best U23 player in the VFL, and by the time Laura Kane read out his name at pick 51 on the second night of the draft, he just finished the fifth year of a medical degree.

“He has had to defer his studies because he can’t study medicine and play full-time AFL.

“He has actually started a part-time PHD in paediatric health, he wants to be a paediatrician once his footy career comes to an end.”

Beyond his remarkable commitment to his studies, Davidson’s journey is bolstered by his love for his boyhood club.

“The other element to this story which I love is the fact that he grew up a hardcore Western Bulldogs supporter,” Gabelich continued.

“Barely missed a game growing up, was there in 2016 in the standing room, in fact in the elimination final last year he was there again, and that was the only time he met with the Western Bulldogs before they picked him.

He played in the very next game, in Round 1, and since then he has gotten better every week.

“What he did on Friday night was outstanding.”

Davidson and the Bulldogs will look to continue to rally results as they face the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium next Sunday afternoon.