Joel Amartey (born 2 September 1999) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL) after the St. Kilda saints chose not to match an NGA bid on him. He was recruited by the Sydney Swans with the 28th draft pick in the 2018 AFL rookie draft.[1][2][3]

Joel Amartey
Image of Joel Amartey in 2018
Personal information
Full name Joel Amartey
Nickname(s) Baz
Date of birth (1999-09-02) 2 September 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Beaumaris, Victoria
Original team(s) Sandringham Dragons (NAB League)
Draft No. 28, 2018 AFL rookie draft, Sydney
Debut 13 September 2020, Sydney vs. Brisbane Lions, at Cazaly's Stadium
Height 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 98 kg (216 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 36
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018– Sydney 52 (73)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of preliminary finals, 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early football

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Amartey was born in Australia to a father who had migrated from Ghana. As a child, he played soccer, but quit after experiencing racial abuse, moving instead to basketball and later to Australian rules.[4] He played junior football for the Beaumaris Football Club in the South Metro Junior Football League, alongside many of his future teammates at the Swans such as Callum Sinclair and Oliver Florent.[5][6] Amartey and Florent also played football together on the same school team at Mentone Grammar.[7] He played for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League, playing 14 games and kicking 9 goals over the course of the 2017 season.[8] Amartey had the opportunity to win the grand final for the Dragons in their premiership match against the Geelong Falcons as he marked in front of goal with seconds left, meaning he had to kick a goal after the siren. However, he missed the shot, and the Dragons lost by two points.[9][10]

AFL career

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Amartey was likely to make his AFL debut in July 2020, but suffered a groin injury in a scratch match and was unable to debut for the Swans.[11] Amartey debuted in Sydney's 32 point loss to Brisbane Lions in the 17th round of the 2020 AFL season.[12][13] On debut, Amartey collected 3 disposals, 8 hitouts, and 2 tackles.[14] Amartey was upgraded from the rookie list at the conclusion of the season.[15]

In Round 5 of the 2023 AFL season Amartey pulled his hamstring while running towards the forward line. Amartey immediately got subbed out of the game.

In 2024, he scored a career best 9 goals during the last three quarters of Sydney's Round 14 clash against the Adelaide Crows.

Statistics

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Updated to the end of round 6, 2023.[16]

Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2018 Sydney 46 0
2019 Sydney 46 0
2020[a] Sydney 46 1 0 0 3 0 3 0 2 8 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 8.0
2021 Sydney 36 6 5 3 38 17 55 16 23 49 0.8 0.5 6.3 2.8 9.2 2.7 3.8 8.2
2022 Sydney 36 6 5 3 29 14 43 12 14 18 0.8 0.5 4.8 2.3 7.2 2.0 2.3 3.0
2023 Sydney 36 4 6 6 24 12 36 19 3 14 1.5 1.5 6.0 3.0 9.0 4.7 0.7 3.5
Career 17 16 12 94 43 137 47 42 89 0.9 0.7 5.5 2.5 8.0 2.7 2.4 5.2
  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ "Rookie Draft #28: Joel Amartey". Sydney Swans Media. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  2. ^ Guthrie, Ben (4 December 2017). "Amartey looks forward". Sydney Swans Media. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. ^ McKern, James (27 November 2017). "AFL preseason and rookie drafts". News.com.au. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  4. ^ "How racial abuse led Joel Amartey to his AFL debut". Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. ^ "'Beauie Boys' strut their stuff for Sydney Swans". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Two further SMJFL alumni find their way onto AFL lists". South Metro Junior Football League. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. ^ Gates, Zachary (11 June 2018). "Amartey stoked to sign". Sydney Swans Media. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Joel Amartey". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  9. ^ Guthrie, Ben (3 December 2017). "Swans rookie puts Grand Final miss behind him". AFL Media. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Video: Geelong wins the TAC Cup grand final after Sandringham's Joel Amartey misses a post-siren shot". Fox Sports. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. ^ Rugari, Vince (7 July 2020). "Injury-hit Swans at a loss as AFL confirm no mid-year draft or loans". The Age. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ "TEAM: Amartey to debut among four changes". Sydney Swans Media. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  13. ^ Hope, Shayne (14 September 2020). "Longmire lifted by Swans' AFL development". Macquarie Port News. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Round 17 • Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions - Player Stats". Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  15. ^ Cleary, Mitch (27 November 2020). "UPDATE: Locked and loaded: What your club's 2021 list will look like". AFL Media. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Joel Amartey". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
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