Introduction Todd Banfield has quickly become a favourite at the Gabba with his blistering pace and attack on the ball. He is a hard-tackling small forward who is opportunistic in front of goals. Background • Banfield spent the bulk of his junior football days playing with Swan Districts in Western Australia. • His impressive form with the Swan Districts Colts (U18) side during the first half of the 2008 season earned him a spot in the senior team for the remainder of the year including finals. He made an immediate impact with his speed, incredible work ethic and defensive pressure. • Despite playing only half the season with the premiership-winning Colts side, he still earned selection in the 2008 WAFL U18 Team of the Year and finished equal 9th in the Jack Clarke Medal for the Best & Fairest player in the WAFL Colts competition. • A noted ‘speed demon’, Banfield recorded an impressive 2.87 second run over 20m at a state screening session in Western Australia prior to the 2008 Draft. • He was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with selection No.41 in the 2008 National Draft.
2009 • Banfield showed plenty of promise during his first pre-season with the Lions and was particularly busy during the Intra-Club match. • His impressive pre-season form was halted however when he broke his hand which kept him sidelined for the Club's entire NAB Cup campaign. • The West Australian eventually returned to the Lions Reserves side where he displayed his speed and tenacity for the remainder of the season. • Although he wasn't able to crack a senior berth in his debut season, he certainly took great strides in his development for the future. 2010 • Banfield was one of the standouts throughout the Club's pre-season campaign playing predominantly as a small forward and was rewarded with his senior AFL debut in Round 1 against West Coast at the Gabba. • He collected 17 disposals and kicked a goal in his first senior outing and quickly established himself as an important part of the Lions' forward structure. • In Round 7 against Sydney at the SCG, Banfield booted a career-best three goals which earned him an AFL Rising Star Nomination. • He went on to be one of only a handful of players to feature in all 22 senior matches in 2010 - a tremendous achievement in just his second AFL season. • He kicked a total of 27 goals for the season which was the third most at the Club behind key forwards Jonathan Brown (53) and Brendan Fevola (48). • He kicked a total of 27 goals for the season - which was the third most at the Club behind key forwards Jonathan Brown (53) and Brendan Fevola (48) - and finished 10th in the Club Champion award. • Banfield was also the only Lions player selected in the Australian International Rules team that toured Ireland at the end of the year. His speed and attack on the ball proved valuable in Australia's triumph in the hybrid game. 2011 • Banfield resumed his position as the team's most dangerous small forward in 2011 and went on to kick 24 goals from 19 matches, which placed him third behind Mitch Clark (27 goals) and Ash McGrath (26 goals) on the Club's goal-kicking list. • His best return for the season was against eventual Premiers Geelong in Round 17 at the Gabba when he booted a career-high four goals. • He could have bettered that effort one month later against the Gold Coast in QClash 2 if not for some wayward kicking. Banfield had nine shots on goal against the SUNS for a return of two goals five. • He strained his hamstring against Richmond in Round 13 which kept him sidelined for two weeks and missed the team's Round 24 match against the Swans at the SCG with hamstring tightness. • He polled 22 votes in the 2011 Club Champion award to finish a career-best 8th. It was his second consecutive top ten finish in the Club's highest individual honour.
Lions little man Todd Banfield returns his best match of the season in the loss to Geelong on SundayMonday, July 18, 2011 - 7:13AM
Todd Banfield says he has no fears of being one of the Lions more experienced forward playersFriday, April 08, 2011 - 4:33PM
Brisbane Lion Todd Banfield says despite a fifth-straight loss there are signs things are getting betterMonday, May 24, 2010 - 10:40AM
Polkinghorne catches up with BanfieldFriday, May 21, 2010 - 3:17PM
Todd Banfield might not have shot to prominence as quickly as teammate Daniel Rich, but he is starting to make his mark in the Lions' forward lineTuesday, May 04, 2010 - 8:50AM
Todd Banfield of Brisbane is awarded the round 6 nomination for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star after his 3 goal performance against the Swans on Saturday nightTuesday, May 04, 2010 - 9:48AM
Todd Banfield is awarded the round 6 nomination for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star after his 3 goal performance against the Swans on Saturday nightTuesday, May 04, 2010 - 9:48AM
Todd Banfield speaks exclusively to BLTV.Tuesday, August 04, 2009 - 1:02PM
Advertisement
