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Will Snelling
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William Alexander Snelling (born 6 August 1997) is an Australian rules footballer who most recently played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He currently plays for Sturt in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
Key Information
AFL career
[edit]Port Adelaide
[edit]Snelling was first drafted by Port Adelaide with their first selection and tenth overall in the 2016 rookie draft.[1] He played his only senior AFL game for Port Adelaide in their twenty-three point win against Gold Coast in round 23, 2016 at Metricon Stadium.[2] He was delisted by Port Adelaide at the end of the 2018 AFL season.[3]
Essendon
[edit]After being overlooked by all clubs in the 2018 AFL draft, Snelling played for West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League. He was subsequently selected by Essendon in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft, at pick 7. In round 18 he made his debut for Essendon at Adelaide Oval. He played in the Bombers' next two games against Gold Coast and his former club Port Adelaide before he suffered foot soreness and lost his position in the senior side.
Snelling established himself in Essendon’s best side in 2020, playing every game and finishing ninth in the club's best and fairest award. He signed a one-year contract extension for 2021 at the end of the 2020 season.[4] Snelling was delisted at the end of the 2023 season amid the recruiting of Jade Gresham from St Kilda.[5]
Sturt (SANFL)
[edit]Snelling signed for Sturt in the SANFL for the 2024 season.[6] In his first season at Sturt, Snelling was the joint winner of the Magarey Medal,[7] and won the SANFL Now Player of the Year award.[8] Snelling also represented the SANFL state team in a State Game against the VFL as part of the 2024 Gather Round held by the AFL.[9]
Statistics
[edit]Updated to the end of 2023.[10]
G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 2016 | Port Adelaide | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 15.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| 2017 | Port Adelaide | 34 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2018 | Port Adelaide | 34 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | Essendon | 40 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 46 | 66 | 11 | 13 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 11.5 | 16.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| 2020[a] | Essendon | 40 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 71 | 151 | 222 | 29 | 79 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.2 | 8.9 | 13.1 | 1.7 | 4.6 |
| 2021 | Essendon | 40 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 155 | 199 | 354 | 74 | 99 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 7.8 | 10.0 | 17.7 | 3.7 | 5.0 |
| 2022 | Essendon | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 66 | 107 | 24 | 28 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 13.4 | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| 2023 | Essendon | 11 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 89 | 82 | 171 | 44 | 47 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Career | 65 | 29 | 12 | 382 | 553 | 935 | 183 | 272 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 5.9 | 8.5 | 14.4 | 2.8 | 4.2 | ||
Notes
- ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honours and achievements
[edit]Individual
[edit]- Magarey Medal: 2024
- SANFL Now Player of the Year: 2024
References
[edit]- ^ Capel, Andrew (27 November 2015). "New Port Adelaide rookie Will Snelling craving the chance to prove himself after national draft snub". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ Earle, Richard (27 August 2016). "Gray shines brighter than the Suns but change looms at Port Adelaide". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ Founten, Loukas (24 October 2018). "Snelling: I'm desperate to give it another crack". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Snelling signs on". essendonfc.com.au. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Geleit, Lachlan (13 February 2024). "Why delisted Bomber was unwilling to push for potential 2024 list spot". 1116 SEN.
- ^ Keating, Mitch (24 November 2023). "Axed Essendon forward's new club revealed". zerohanger.com.au.
- ^ Milbank, Zac (11 September 2024). "Norwood ruckman, Sturt midfielder tie for Magarey Medal". afl.com.au.
- ^ "Will Snelling wins 2024 SANFL Now Player of the Year". sanfl.com.au. 25 August 2024.
- ^ "West End State Team finalised for AAMI State Game". sanfl.com.au. 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Will Snelling". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
External links
[edit]- Will Snelling's playing statistics from AFL Tables
 | This Australian rules football biography of a person born in 1997 is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
Will Snelling
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and junior career
Background and early development
William Alexander Snelling was born on 6 August 1997 in South Australia.[3][7] Raised in South Australia, Snelling grew up in a family with limited publicly available details regarding his parents and siblings, though he has been noted as a lifelong supporter of the Essendon Football Club from his boyhood years. His early exposure to Australian rules football came through local junior competitions in Adelaide, where he developed his skills playing for the Goodwood Saints in the South Australian junior leagues, progressing from local play to state representative levels. This foundational period honed his competitive instincts and laid the groundwork for his progression in the sport.[8][9][1] Snelling balanced his burgeoning football commitments with education at Mercedes College in Adelaide, completing Year 12 in 2015 while making his senior debut for West Adelaide in the SANFL that same year. Standing at 175 cm and weighing 80 kg, he emerged as a small, agile midfielder characterized by his speed, skill, and tenacious running style, traits evident from his junior levels onward. These attributes, combined with a hard-edged approach to contests, marked his transition from local development to higher competitive pathways.[10][11][9]Representative and draft pathway
Snelling began his representative pathway with the Goodwood Saints in junior football before progressing to state level. He captained South Australia in the 2015 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, where he was named the state's Most Valuable Player and selected in the All-Australian team, leading the competition in tackles with his tenacious midfield play.[12][13] At just 17 years old, Snelling made his SANFL debut for West Adelaide in the 2015 season, playing 13 senior matches as a bottom-aged player and contributing to their premiership victory over Woodville-West Torrens. His performances featured prolific ball-winning and elite tackling—recording 79 tackles to lead the club—which drew significant draft attention despite his youth.[12][13] Despite his strong junior resume, AFL clubs expressed concerns about Snelling's size at 174 cm and potential durability issues in a physical league, along with questions over his outside running and kicking efficiency, which saw him overlooked in the national draft and projected as a late or rookie selection.[14] These factors positioned him as a high-risk, high-reward prospect from West Adelaide and the Goodwood Saints. Snelling was ultimately selected by Port Adelaide with pick 10 in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft, rewarding his standout under-18 and SANFL form.[12]AFL career
Port Adelaide
Snelling was recruited to Port Adelaide as a rookie draft selection, taken with the club's first pick at number 10 overall in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft, following strong performances for West Adelaide in the SANFL where he contributed to their 2015 premiership win.[9][15] As a rookie, he trained with the senior group throughout the 2016 pre-season and early season but received limited exposure at the reserves level in the SANFL, focusing primarily on development as a small, hard-running midfielder.[9][2] His AFL debut came in round 23 of the 2016 season against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium, where Port Adelaide secured a 23-point victory; in the match, Snelling recorded 15 disposals, 6 tackles, and 1 goal.[16][9] Despite this promising showing, he did not feature in further senior games that year and remained on the rookie list into 2017.[2] In 2017, Snelling spent the entire season playing for Port Adelaide's SANFL reserves side, the Magpies, where he averaged 20 disposals per game and kicked 1 goal across 20 matches, continuing his development without elevation to the senior list.[9] Snelling stayed on the rookie list for the 2018 season as well, again playing primarily in the SANFL for the Magpies without securing additional AFL opportunities, amid strong competition in Port Adelaide's midfield.[2][17] At the end of 2018, after three seasons and just one senior appearance, he was delisted by the club as part of broader list management changes that saw five players farewelled, including Jake Neade and Dom Barry.[17][18]Essendon
Snelling was selected by Essendon with pick seven in the 2019 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, earning the opportunity after a strong showing in the SANFL with West Adelaide, where he averaged over 27 disposals per game in the lead-up.[19][20] He made his club debut in round 18 of that year against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, just weeks after joining the Bombers, and went on to play four games in total during the shortened season.[3][21] Snelling solidified his place in Essendon's lineup in 2020, playing all 17 games amid the COVID-affected season and finishing ninth in the club's best and fairest award, the Crichton Medal, as a versatile midfielder-forward known for his pressure and tackling intensity.[3] His form continued to build in 2021, where he appeared in a career-high 20 games, averaging 17.7 disposals and booting 12 goals while ranking third in the Crichton Medal count; he was particularly valued for his consistent contributions in contested situations and forward pressure, often leading the team in tackles early in the season.[6][22] In 2022, however, injuries limited him to eight games, disrupting his momentum despite glimpses of his dual-sided role in the midfield and forward line.[23] The 2023 season presented further challenges for Snelling, who managed 15 games while dealing with injuries, resulting in an average of 11.4 disposals and six goals; nonetheless, he remained a key option for inside-50 entries and provided leadership in a developing Essendon side.[6] At the end of the year, Snelling was delisted by the club after 64 AFL games for Essendon (28 goals), bringing his overall league tally to 65 including his single appearance for Port Adelaide; Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro praised his resilience and commitment, noting his journey as a boyhood Bombers supporter who had revived his career in red and black.[4][8]SANFL career
West Adelaide
Snelling joined West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in 2015 as a bottom-aged player, making his league debut in Round 1 while still attending Mercedes College.[10] He played 13 league games that season for the Bloods, contributing as a small, fast, and skilled midfielder with a hard-running style.[9] Snelling was part of West Adelaide's premiership-winning team, defeating Woodville-West Torrens in the grand final.[9][13]Port Adelaide
Following his selection by Port Adelaide in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft, Snelling played SANFL football for the Port Adelaide team from 2016 to 2018. He featured consistently in the state league, including a standout 2018 season where he won the A.R. McLean Medal as Port Adelaide's best and fairest player in the SANFL.[9][3]West Adelaide
Following his delisting by Port Adelaide at the end of the 2018 season, Snelling re-signed with West Adelaide in late 2018.[2] He played the full early part of the 2019 SANFL season with the club, appearing in seven games before being selected by Essendon in the AFL mid-season rookie draft as pick number 7.[20][24] In those matches, Snelling averaged 36.3 disposals, 13.5 tackles, and 8.5 clearances per game, showcasing his pressure and ball-winning ability.[25] As a primary inside midfielder, Snelling helped bolster West Adelaide's midfield group during his 2019 stint.[9] His consistent individual performances highlighted his development in the SANFL environment outside the AFL.[13] Snelling departed the club mid-2019 for Essendon and did not return to West Adelaide thereafter.[2]Sturt
Following his delisting from Essendon at the end of the 2023 AFL season, Snelling signed with Sturt in the SANFL ahead of the 2024 campaign, seeking regular game time to leverage his experience as a 26-year-old midfielder and forward.[26][5] This move marked his return to South Australian football after earlier stints with West Adelaide.[1] In 2024, Snelling established himself as a cornerstone of Sturt's midfield, averaging high disposal counts and applying relentless pressure through tackles, while also contributing goals from forward forays.[27] His performances were instrumental in Sturt's strong regular season, where the club finished second on the ladder with 15 wins and secured a finals appearance, though they exited in straight sets.[28] Snelling's dominance earned him a clean sweep of major individual honors, including the Magarey Medal as the SANFL's best and fairest (joint winner), the P.T. Morton Medal as Sturt's best and fairest, the SANFL Now Player of the Year award, the Bob Quinn Medal for interstate representation, and selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.[1][27] Snelling re-signed with Sturt for the 2025 season and was elevated to co-vice captain alongside Tom Lewis, signaling his growing leadership influence within the club.[1] He adapted fluidly between midfield and small forward roles, delivering consistent output despite a mid-season knee injury that limited him to 15 games.[10][29] His efforts helped propel Sturt to an undefeated home-and-away record and the Hostplus SANFL League premiership—their first flag since 2016—capped by a grand final victory over Glenelg, where he reached his 100th SANFL game milestone during the finals series.[30] Snelling finished third in the Magarey Medal count and earned back-to-back selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.[1] Snelling's AFL background has been pivotal in mentoring Sturt's younger players, fostering a culture of elite standards through his endurance, tackling intensity, and precise ball use, which elevated the team's overall competitiveness in the state league.[1][31]Career statistics
AFL statistics
Will Snelling played 65 Australian Football League (AFL) games across Port Adelaide and Essendon from 2016 to 2023, scoring 29 goals in total.[6] Predominantly utilized as a midfielder and forward, his career featured limited appearances early on, with a breakout in 2021 where he played 20 games and kicked 12 goals.[6] The following table summarizes his season-by-season AFL statistics, including games played, goals and behinds, and key performance averages.| Season | Team | Games | Goals-Behinds | Avg. Disposals | Avg. Kicks | Avg. Handballs | Avg. Marks | Avg. Tackles | Avg. Clearances | Avg. Inside 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Port Adelaide | 1 | 1-0 | 15.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| 2019 | Essendon | 4 | 5-0 | 16.5 | 5.0 | 11.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| 2020 | Essendon | 17 | 5-2 | 13.0 | 4.1 | 8.9 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| 2021 | Essendon | 20 | 12-7 | 17.7 | 7.8 | 9.9 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| 2022 | Essendon | 8 | 0-0 | 13.4 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
| 2023 | Essendon | 15 | 6-3 | 11.4 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| Career Total/Average | 65 | 29-12 | 14.4 | 5.9 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
SANFL statistics
Will Snelling has accumulated 101 league matches and 29 goals across his SANFL career with West Adelaide, Port Adelaide Magpies, and Sturt as of the conclusion of the 2025 season. His early contributions came with West Adelaide in 2015, where he debuted in Round 1 and played a key role in their premiership victory, before transitioning to the Port Adelaide Magpies from 2016 to 2018. After being delisted by Port Adelaide at the end of 2018, he returned to West Adelaide for the early part of 2019, playing 7 games and kicking 2 goals before his mid-season draft to Essendon.[24] Snelling's full return to the SANFL in 2024 with Sturt marked a resurgence, highlighted by exceptional midfield output in disposals and tackles.[10][29][1] At Sturt, Snelling established himself as one of the competition's premier inside midfielders. In his debut 2024 season, he led the league in average tackles (10.9 per game) while ranking highly in disposals and clearances, culminating in a joint Magarey Medal win as the fairest and best player. The following year, despite a mid-season knee injury that limited him to 15 appearances, he remained a tackling force and contributed to Sturt's 2025 premiership success with consistent contest work. These performances underscore his evolution into a high-impact player at state level.[27][32][33][34]| Season | Club | Games Played | Goals | Avg. Disposals | Avg. Tackles | Avg. Clearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | West Adelaide | 24 | 5 | - | - | - |
| 2019 | West Adelaide | 7 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 2024 | Sturt | 18 | 6 | 28.7 | 10.9 | 6.7 |
| 2025 | Sturt | 15 | 4 | 24.9 | 8.8 | 6.3 |
| Career | - | 101 | 29 | - | - | - |