Sam Fisher Biography

Seb Ross claims his first Trevor Barker award as St Kilda's best and fairest after a career-best season in 2017.

Ross finished with 159 votes ahead of gun backman Dylan Roberton (124) and captain Jarryn Geary (121).

Ross paid tribute to retirees Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Sean Dempster and Sam Fisher, who finished up after the end of the 2016 season, for teaching him valuable lessons.

"The legacy you left on me, you taught me how to work as a young kid," Ross said.

"It probably took me three or four years to figure it out and those three or four years watching you guys each day in your own life, you just put your head down and your bums up and you worked hard, you're as loyal as they come, you're some of the greatest blokes I've ever met and I just wish you guys well in the future."

Sam Fisher retires after 228 games across 13 seasons with the Saints.

The versatile defender ends a decorated career that included two club champion awards, All Australian honours in 2008 and Grand Final appearances in 2009 and 2010.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time playing for St Kilda Football Club and I can retire knowing that I have given my all over the past 13 years," Fisher said.

"I don't think anyone imagines they'll play over 200 games but I'm so grateful to have had this experience and would like to thank St Kilda Football Club and the fans for their support over the years."

The future of St Kilda veteran Sam Fisher remains uncertain after the club revealed it would wait until after the trade period before making a decision on the defender's place on its list in 2017.

"Ongoing conversations with Sam and his management have been transparent and productive," Saints chief operating officer Ameet Bains said.

"Sam has expressed his initial desire to play on in 2017 if this fits into the club's list management strategy.

"At this stage, both parties will continue discussions ahead of the upcoming trade period, after which we will be in a better position to make a more informed decision about the future."

Sam Fisher has been cleared of structural damage to his jaw after being taken to hospital following the Saints' 70-point loss to the Sydney Swans.

Fisher was flattened in a clash with Swans ruckman Toby Nankervis on Saturday night, clutching at his jaw and immediately taken from the ground in the third quarter.

Sam Fisher is taken to hospital to assess a jaw injury that could end his 13-year career.

Fisher was flattened in a clash with Sydney Swans ruckman Sam Naismith, clutching at his jaw and immediately taken from the ground in the third quarter.

"He's gone to hospital just for some checks on his jaw … well have to wait and see on that one," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"'Fish' committed strongly to the ball. It was one of those awkward bounces, and a collision coming the other way."

Sam Fisher is undecided about his future, with the defender nominating the next month as crucial in deciding whether he plays on next season.

"It is an option, but I haven't really crossed that line yet," Fisher told RSN927 radio when asked about playing on in 2017.

"I've just got to get back to playing and see how I go for the remaining month to six weeks of footy.

"If I can get back and still contribute in the way that I did in the first nine games, that door's always open."

Sam Fisher will miss at least four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during a training session.

A change in luck, a revamped role and the responsibility of mentoring St Kilda's future key defender has veteran Sam Fisher keen to play on in 2016.

"I'm keen to go on and it's looking pretty positive," Fisher said.

"Why wouldn't you want to be a part of a young and exciting group that's improved throughout the year and played some really good footy in patches?

"I'd love to be a part of that next year, because you can see the improvement and where the group's going – why would you want to jump off now, when there's some good things around the corner?"

Sam Fisher faces three weeks on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring against West Coast.

Fisher, who has been in top form this season, injured the same hamstring that sidelined him for nine matches last season and had to leave the ground late in third quarter.

Sam Fisher reveals he feared his career might fall short of reaching his 200-game milestone last year.

"Late last year I'd been out of the game for over a year and time was running out," Fisher said.

"I knew if I didn't play any games towards the end of last season I was probably going to struggle to get a contract for this season.

"I thought, 'Shit, I've just got to get out there or it's going to be too late'."

Persistent hamstring tears meant he didn't play seniors until well into the second half of last season after he got close to a return early on, only to break down in the VFL.

"[The leg] caused complications with the hamstring and that's when I started to think a bit more negatively about things," he said.

"It was such a frustrating time.

"The club never put any real pressure on me to get back, but they always thought I could and play some decent footy, and that really helped.

"Once I'd fixed my problems and I got one game under I belt I knew that I was over the issues and I'd be able to extend my career this year and hopefully beyond."

Sam Fisher says he feels like "a new draftee" after an injury-free summer.

"It's hard to catch up if you miss chunks of foot - it just makes it so much harder to perform at your best and to maintain your match fitness," he said.

"It's really important to get a good pre-season under your belt. To get that means you get the best opportunity to have a good season.

"From a mental side of things I'm pretty fresh and haven't had to back up each week mentally. I feel like a new draftee."

Sam Fisher will play on into 2015 after signing a one-year contract extension with St Kilda.

"I'm thrilled to sign on again with the club. The Saints are a huge part of my life and I'm looking forward to continuing on again next year," Fisher said.

Sam Fisher believes he has put his injury concerns behind him and can play on for another season.

The out-of-contract 32-year-old has battled hamstring problems on and off this year, after being plagued by a degenerative toe joint for a number of seasons.

"My body's fine now, so if I can just have an injury-free run for a while now, fingers crossed, it gives you your fitness and base and things go from there," Fisher said.

"I'm all up for going around again and hopefully the club sees it that way too."

Sam Fisher, who has been cut down by foot, toe, hamstring and back injuries in the past year, is set to make his first senior appearance for the Saints since round 10, 2013.

"The footy he's played in the VFL has been really well supported by his teammates, particularly those guys who played in that really successful period with him," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"They felt his frustration and they value his contribution to the team enormously when he's up and going.

"They're keen to get him out there for many reasons, but probably the most important one is, potentially, he's a real boost for our guys."

Sam Fisher has undergone scans on Monday after his return from injury in the VFL was cut short by back spasms.

Sam Fisher will be sidelined for another four to six weeks after suffering a repeat hamstring injury in the VFL at the weekend.

The 31-year-old, who was on the cusp of playing his first AFL game for the season, suffered the injury in the opening minutes of Sandringham's win over Essendon.

Sam Fisher looks set to miss St Kilda's opener against Melbourne with back stiffness.

Despite interest from GWS, Sam Fisher will play for the Saints in 2014, extending his tenure at St Kilda to an eleventh season.

"GWS has certainly shown some interest in Sam along the way, but that's never materialised in anything concrete, so Sam will be staying with us," Saints list manager Ameet Bains said.

Media reports suggest that Heath Shaw and Sam Fisher could be heading from Collingwood and St Kilda respectively to new clubs.

Collingwood's patience with Shaw is reported to be close to running out after the defender's remonstration with Port forward Angus Monfries in their elimination final that cost the Pies a goal at a crucial stage.

Fisher is reported to be drawing strong interest from Greater Western Sydney.

Sam Fisher is confident of being available for the start of the Saints' pre-season after successful surgery on his degenerative toe joint.

"I'll be there day one – actually, I'll probably be starting a bit earlier because I've missed a bit," Fisher said.

"I'll be ready to go on day one of the pre-season and it'll be good because I haven't done it for the last year or two.

"Last year, I had a delayed start but this year I'll be right on time."

Sam Fisher will miss the rest of the year after undergoing toe surgery.

"I'm disappointed that my season has come to an end but I intend to spend the rest of the year working with the club's younger players and getting myself ready for a full pre-season," Fisher said.

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says the club may opt to book Sam Fisher in for surgery for a foot injury that has been troubling the defender for months.

"He's managed that throughout the course of the year and at times has been unbelievably courageous in actually just getting to a game," Watters said.

"We'll have a really clear assessment of that come Monday or Tuesday and we'll make a decision on how we manage Sam for the rest of the year."

Sam Fisher says he is largely unaffected by an article in The Age that accused him of being on the outer with teammates at St Kilda.

"The accusation, or the comments, made in a certain paper were disappointing and I was a little bit hurt by them," Fisher said.

"But have I lost any sleep over them? No, I haven't. Because I don't tend to worry about what's written about me, I never have and I never will, good or bad, and the way I look at it is, I can control what I control and whatever happens outside I can't control."

Nick Riewoldt will captain St Kilda for an eight successive season under a new leadership structure.

Riewoldt will be joined by Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Ben McEvoy, James Gwilt, David Armitage, Sean Dempster and Jarryn Geary in the leadership group after Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider decided to step aside.

Leigh Montagna says Sam Fisher's standing as a leader at the Saints is not in question despite a report from The Age indicating Fisher's behaviour over the post-season break may have put him on the outer.

"From my point of view, I saw the article and really, there was nothing in that," Montagna said.

"There's been no talk about that at all, about the leadership of Sam. He's a terrific player, he's won two best and fairests and is one of our most professional players.

"From the players' point of view, I didn't see much substance in that article."

Sam Fisher and Ben McEvoy sign contract extensions to the Saints that will keep them at the club till the end of 2014 and 2015 respectively.

"We're a club firmly focused on the future and it's very pleasing that Sam Fisher and Ben McEvoy will be a part of that future," St Kilda's head of football Chris Pelchen said.

"I think it speaks volumes that both Ben and Sam were named in the club's leadership group for 2012."

St Kilda defender and potential GWS target Sam Fisher has declared he wants to be a one-club player.

"I basically want to be a one-club player and St Kilda have given me the opportunity and been such a great help for my career," Fisher said.

"I'd love to be able to repay them and stay a one-club player."

Sam Fisher has won his second St Kilda best and fairest, defeating Nick Dal Santo by just 3 votes to take out the Trevor Barker award.

St Kilda has apologised after five of its players featured in a controversial skit on Thursday night's Footy Show.

Sam Fisher, in particular, is under fire for a routine involving himself and a scantily clad pole dancer.

"The St Kilda Football Club is disappointed with The Footy Show (Nine Network) and its 'player review' segment aired last night," a statement from the Saints read.

"The segment, which involved five St Kilda FC players, was choreographed and scripted by The Footy Show team. At no point was the club informed of the nature or content of the segment.

Saints defender Sam Fisher is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks with an ankle injury sustained in NAB Cup grand final.

St Kilda defender Sam Fisher says backmen will be put under more pressure with the new rushed-behind rule on trial in the NAB Cup.

St Kilda's Sam Fisher says the club is hungry for back-to-back pre-season flags.