Lions in Focus: Sam Mason

By Daniel Atamian

He’s one of many new kids on the block in 2023, but don’t expect this fresh faced prospect to shy away in the big moments in front of goal as that’s where he feels the most comfortable.

 Playing in all 8 games (and counting) in his first year of state league football in 2023, Sam Mason has caught the eye of not just the Coburg fan base, but also the wider football community which continues to grow its interest in the 22 year old who.

When speaking about his footballing journey he mentioned his earliest memories of participating in his local junior clubs Auskick program which would soon lead him to play with Eastern Football Netball League side Surrey Park, the stepping stones and foundation which helped him hone in on the basics of Australian Rules football. “(My) first memory (of football) would have to be playing Auskick at my local junior footy club, (I) played my first season of footy in U9s for the Surrey Park Panthers”.

A versatile 192cm player who can play in the forward line as a reliable marking option or use his speed on the wing, Sam has begun his VFL journey with Coburg in great fashion “This year I’m playing most of my footy down forward and a few stints up on the wing. Growing up, I’ve pretty much always played forward so (I) feel most comfortable up there”.

Mason’s talents were noticed early whether it was through rep teams or NAB League which according to Sam helped build on his confidence that he could potentially one day play at the highest level. “Throughout Juniors, I tended to make the rep teams most years which grew my belief that I could compete with most, I played my NAB League footy at the Eastern Ranges. When I first got selected I was in a bit of disbelief but extremely happy”.

“Back in my top age year, we had a really good crop of boys and ended up making the grand final. Unfortunately no one was picked up in the draft, which was really surprising… I always knew I wasn’t going to be picked up in my draft year. Played really no footy at all due to a broken ankle fairly early on in the season. So going into that draft I had very low expectations”.

Despite not being picked up in the draft would continue to look for an alternative pathway to reach the AFL and opportunity would come knocking for Sam in the form of his former Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara who would extend an invitation for Sam to join him in the jump to the VFL upon his appointment as the new Head Coach of the Lions program. “Initially I got asked by Jamie to come down for a preseason, as he was my coach for Old Trinity last year”.

It would be from that preseason invitation that Sam would grab the opportunity presented to him by Jamie with both hands and never look back as he would make his Coburg debut against Collingwood’s VFL side at Victoria Park for Round 1 of the 2023 season, Sam would critique his debut after according to him did not perform his best “My debut against Collingwood was tough but also a great experience. Didn’t have the greatest game personally and for the team, but being able to play round 1 and make my VFL debut was pretty cool”.

Since his debut Sam says he’s starting to find his feet as he navigates his way through the VFL competition as he starts to notch games under his belt “It took me a week or two to get used to the pace of the game, and slowly got better each week. It’s just another step up from local, but I really enjoy the challenge and working to get better each week”.

Entering 2023 and his new surroundings of the VFL, Sam wanted to ensure that his performances in all games were consistent output in his match performance stating “My goal coming ito this year personally was just to build consistent footy each week”. His consistency in play would also help deliver his favourite highlight (so far) in his state league career with his first VFL goal who Sam fondly reminisced about, “Obviously a highlight was to kick my first goal against Richmond”. Since his arrival to the Lions Sam Mason believes his speed in front of the ball is something he helps bring for the “Burgers” to pair with his goal kicking. “As a forward (I) feel like I can bring speed infront of the ball and create opportunities for the team”.

Sam went on to say “I’m becoming more and more comfortable at VFL level and I’m getting great confidence that I am able to compete at this level against AFL listed players, so it’s only fuelled the fire in me to now do what I can to put myself on AFL club radars in the future too, but at the moment I’m focused on being the best player for Coburg that I can be.”

Outside of the playing footy for the Lions, Sam has been working on perfecting his craft to set up his career on the tools as a Carpenter, as he embarks on his third year apprenticeship in 2023. “Outside of footy, I am currently completing my apprenticeship in Carpentry. Now in my third year”.

With eight games under his belt already and plenty more footy left in the season, Lions fans and the wider football community can reset assure that there is plenty of time to see the best of Sam Mason on the footy field in the Navy and Red should nothing happen during the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft as this speedy forward continues to work on his consistency to help the Burgers strive to improve and attain the ultimate success in the VFL. But if selected by a team don’t be surprised to see him take his chance and run with it.

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