Sam Grlj

Sam Grlj
Grlj in March 2026
Personal information
Full name Samuel Grlj[1]
Nicknames Griller, Sizzle[2]
Born (2007-07-29) 29 July 2007
Original team Oakleigh Chargers (Talent League)
Draft No. 8, 2025 AFL draft
Debut Round 1, 2026, Richmond vs. Carlton, at MCG
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Position Half back
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 24
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2026– Richmond 2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 2, 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Samuel Grlj (gril,[3]born 26 July 2007) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A quick rebounding defender, Grlj was drafted in the first round of the 2025 AFL draft and made his debut early in the 2026 season.

Early life and junior football

Grlj was raised in Melbourne's eastern suburbs and played junior football with the Canterbury Cobras and the Kew Rovers in the Yarra Junior Football League.[4][5] He later played junior representative football with the Oakleigh Chargers in the Talent League in 2024 and attended, played for and captained the football side at Camberwell Grammar School through 2025.[3][6]

In the 2025 Talent League season, Grlj played seven matches, averaging 20.3 disposals and five tackles per game as a half-back and a midfielder.[7][8][9] For his performances, he was selected to the Talent League Team of the Year as a half-back.[8]

That same season, Grlj was selected to represent Victoria's metropolitan region at the 2025 AFL Under 18 Championships. He served as captain and played four matches with an average of 17 disposals per match.[8][6]

Grlj also played two matches of state-league football in 2025, featuring with Richmond's VFL team and recording 18 and 15 disposals in those matches.[10][8][11][12]

At the 2025 national draft combine, Grlj recorded the second fastest two kilometre time trial time (5 minutes, 59 seconds) and the ninth best time in the 20 metre sprint (2.926 seconds).[13][14][15] Prior to the draft, Grlj was projected to be taken with the 14th overall pick by each of AFL Media, Fox Sports and ESPN.[16][17][18]

AFL career

Grlj was drafted by Richmond with the club's second selection and the eighth pick overall in the 2025 AFL draft.[15][6] He made his first appearances for the club in two pre-season matches in February 2026.[19][20][21] Grlj will make his AFL debut in round 1 of the 2026 season, in a match against Carlton at the MCG.[22]

Player profile

Grlj plays as a rebounding half-back.[23] He is notable for his running speed, power and endurance.[3][8][24]

Personal life

Grlj's paternal family is of Italian, Macedonian and Slovenian heritage, with the name Grlj drawn from Slovenian elements of the family.[3][2]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 2, 2026.[25]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2026 Richmond 24 2 0 0 20 12 32 11 6 0.0 0.0 10.0 6.0 16.0 5.5 3.0
Career 2 0 0 20 12 32 11 6 0.0 0.0 10.0 6.0 16.0 5.5 3.0 0

References

  1. ^ "Round 2 recap: Coates Talent League Boys". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b Slevison, Andrew (20 November 2025). ""No idea": Why Tigers draftee was shocked by selection". SEN. Sports Entertainment Network. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d McGowan, Marc (19 November 2025). "When this draft hopeful started to get noticed, things fell apart. This is how he got back on track". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  4. ^ Alvaro, Michael (26 March 2025). "Preseason Q&A: Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers)". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Seven YJFL juniors realise AFL Dream". Yarra Junior Football League. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Sam Grlj to bring the sizzle to Richmond". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  7. ^ "#5 Sam Grlj". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e Waterworth, Ben; Jovanovski, Jack (27 October 2025). "'He really cares': How 'unreal' respected figure helped spark Sam Grlj's first-round draft surge". Fox Footy. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  9. ^ Milic, Henry (20 November 2025). "'Respect' at the forefront for Grlj". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  10. ^ Greenberg, Tony (4 August 2025). "Grlj meets challenge in fine style". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  11. ^ Waterworth, Ben; Bolch, Dylan; Jovanovski, Jack (21 November 2025). "Early verdict: Gun draftees most likely to debut at every AFL club in Round 1 2026". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  12. ^ Bolch, Dylan (15 August 2025). "Ball magnet's massive statement in senior footy as young stars boost draft stocks — Draft Watch". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  13. ^ Chellappah, Jasper (6 October 2025). "AFL Draft Combine 2025: The biggest takeaways from the weekend". ESPN. Disney. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  14. ^ Cavanagh, Chris; Healy, Liam (20 November 2025). "AFL Draft 2025: All the reaction and every pick from the first round". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b McGowan, Marc (20 November 2025). "The moment the most unpredictable AFL draft went off script". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  16. ^ Twomey, Callum (17 November 2025). "Cal Twomey's 2025 Phantom Draft: Top 30, late picks, whispers". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  17. ^ Chellappah, Jasper (18 November 2025). "AFL Draft 2025: 54 picks, bidding drama in ESPN's final, full Phantom Draft". ESPN. Disney. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  18. ^ Waterworth, Ben (20 November 2025). "Updated Phantom Draft: Big top-15 calls, bid NOT matched as first 30 AFL picks predicted". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Updated Squads: Top draftees in, big-name Pies missing, mixed news for Port". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  20. ^ Jovanovski, Jack (20 February 2026). "'Dominant' Parish explodes in 'remarkable' Bombers blitz as Lalor's act stuns". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  21. ^ Pavlou, Anna (11 March 2026). "Grlj to light up MCG on Thursday night". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  22. ^ Black, Sarah (11 March 2026). "Tigers veteran falls short for season-opener, top draftee earns debut". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  23. ^ Cotton, Cotton; Jovanovski, Jack; Bolch, Dylan (21 November 2025). "'Amazed': Why first round prospect fell as Pies snare stunning draft bargain — Bolters & Sliders". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  24. ^ Bell, James (4 August 2025). "VFL Player Focus: Sam Grlj (Richmond)". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Sam Grlj". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
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