Former Demon Clay Sampson’s name is likely to come up in dispatches in the near future because his son Hayden is a member of the South Australian team for the AFL Under 18 National Championships which start tomorrow.

Hayden Sampson from South Adelaide is a midfield/small forward who has football smarts and is dangerous in front of goal. He has been selected in the forward pocket for the opening game against WA alongside Jack Lukosius, one of the favourites for #1 selection in the November National Draft.

Clay Sampson was drafted by Melbourne as a wingman at 51st overall in the 1994 AFL Draft and played 13 games (one goal) in the following two seasons before being cleared to Adelaide where he played in that club’s first AFL Premiership in 1997. After two seasons, 24 games and 16 goals with the Crows, he moved to Richmond where he also played two seasons before returning to his original club South Adelaide where he eventually coached for a short period. 

In all, Clay Sampson played 64 AFL games at his three clubs so young Hayden isn’t eligible for any of those clubs under the father/son rule but, given that the Demons currently have a few picks in the second/third round band, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that history might repeat and another Sampson gets drafted to them with a pick around #50.

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Sampson came to Melbourne when we were in a bit of a mess and the club was going through the merger crisis. He never established himself and lucked out when he went back home and got the honour of playing in an AFL premiership team at Adelaide.

 

He was apparently going to be a real gun ...... until his (now ex) girlfriend Delilah gave him a trim.  Never the same again.

6 minutes ago, monoccular said:

He was apparently going to be a real gun ...... until his (now ex) girlfriend Delilah gave him a trim.  Never the same again.

That one just brought the house down monoccular.

6 hours ago, monoccular said:

He was apparently going to be a real gun ...... until his (now ex) girlfriend Delilah gave him a trim.  Never the same again.

 

Good luck to young Hayden. There is still a little romance for second generation footballers playing at their dads club, even if they didn't crack the tonne for father son.