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Ashley Sampi (born 21 January 1984) is an indigenous Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League. He is most well known for taking the 2004 AFL Mark of the Year.

Early life

Sampi attended Trinity College in Perth, Western Australia.

AFL career

Recruited by the West Coast Eagles at number six in the 2001 AFL draft, Sampi debuted against Geelong in round 14 of the 2002 season. In his debut season, Sampi played four games, including a final.

In round five of the 2003 season, Sampi kicked four goals in the Eagles' 35-point win over Fremantle. He was voted best-on-ground by a panel of judges but was controversially denied the Glendinning–Allan Medal; it was instead awarded to ruckman Michael Gardiner. Twenty years later, in August 2023, Sampi was recognised with a retrospective Glendinning–Allan Medal.

In 2004, Sampi won the AFL Mark of the Year. The following year, he played for the Eagles in the 2005 AFL Grand Final, a game the Eagles lost by four points to Sydney. In 2006, he played in 12 games and was not selected for the 2006 AFL Grand Final, where the Eagles won the premiership.

In 2007, Sampi did not play a game for the Eagles after being placed on the long term injury list. He battled depression and spent most of the season in Broome. He was delisted following the season.

Personal life

Sampi has a wife Gerri and multiple children.

On May 3, 2022, Sampi reported via his uncle Ernie Dingo's Facebook page that he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

References

1. Butler, Steve (22 April 2023). "Life now worth living for former Eagle". The West Australian. Retrieved 4 August 2023. ...the former Trinity College student said.
2. O'Donoghue, Craig (4 August 2023). "Former West Coast Eagle Ashley Sampi to receive retrospective Glendinning-Allan medal at club function". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
3. O'Donoghue, Craig (11 August 2023). "Emotional ex-West Coast Eagle Ashley Sampi counting down hours to getting his 2003 Glendinning-Allan Medal". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
4. O'Donoghue, Craig (11 August 2023). "Former West Coast Eagle Ashley Sampi finally gets his medal from Ross Glendinning for 2003 derby dominance". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
5. "Sampi moves on from Eagles". abc.net.au. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
6. ^ "Former Eagle Ashley Sampi reveals MS diagnosis in heartfelt Facebook post". Fox Sports. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
7. "Ernie Dingo". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 28 March 2023.

External links

• "West Coast Profile – Ashley Sampi". Archived from the original on 21 June 2004.
• Ashley Sampi's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• WAFL statistics

• 1984 births
• Living people
• Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football
• Indigenous Australians from Western Australia
• West Coast Eagles players
• South Fremantle Football Club players
• Port Fairy Football Club players
• People educated at Trinity College, Perth
• People from the Kimberley (Western Australia)
• Australian rules footballers from Perth, Western Australia