Sam Jacobs Biography

Sam Jacobs cuts short his two-year contract with the Giants after opting to retire immediately despite being contracted for 2021.

Jacobs informed his teammates after the Giants' season-ending loss to St Kilda on Friday night, having missed selection for the second straight week.

"Things didn't quite go to plan this year and I got out with real happiness and I'm really proud of the career. I've been very lucky to be part of three great clubs," Jacobs said.

"With our second child due in November, it's time to put my family first and it just feels like the time is right and I'm really excited about what's next."

Sam Jacobs and a group of GWS players visit a bushfire-affected property in Tumbarumba as part of the 2020 AFL Community Camp.

"It's pretty confronting to experience the devastation these people have been through first hand, but it's been great to come out a lend a hand," he said.

"We live in a big city and footy is our world, but this is people's livelihoods. This is what they do every day and to see it get taken away in such a horrific way is shattering."

Sam Jacobs joins the Giants after being traded from Adelaide for a future fourth-round pick.

Jacobs could have signed as an unrestricted free agent, but the clubs agreed to a trade so the Giants' compensation pick for losing Adam Tomlinson to Melbourne wouldn't be diluted.

"The Giants have some terrific players, but they've also got guys who play some really important roles for them as well, so I think the balance is really strong," Jacobs said.

"Hopefully I can be one of those role players and give them a good look at it through the midfield."

Sam Jacobs decides to exercise his free agency rights and will leave Adelaide after nine seasons to join Greater Western Sydney on a two-year deal.

"After a couple of weeks of really open discussions with the club, I have decided it would be best for my family and career to exercise my free agent options," Jacobs said.

"I do this with a heavy heart, as I love the club. It was an extremely difficult decision to make."

Sam Jacobs is back in Adelaide's senior side after eight weeks in the SANFL.

"There's been times throughout the year where I've doubted myself, but I've just got to keep controlling what I can and the rest is out of my hands," Jacobs said.

"Probably the first four weeks I needed a mental and physical break, probably more mental. The last four weeks, I got the real enjoyment, the real hunger, the real excitement back.

"It's been disappointing at times not to get picked, but I felt I always went back to the SANFL with a great attitude, helped the young guys, make sure I'm in-form so that when I do get the opportunity, I'm ready to go."

Despite the two Adelaide ruckman competing for the same senior spot, Reilly O'Brien says he has a good relationship with the more veteran Sam Jacobs who acts as his mentor.

"We've got a relationship and there's certainly no awkwardness there," O'Brien said.

"He gives me advice every week. He's come up against a lot of opponents I've come up against and knows little tricks against them that work and what doesn't work and their little tendencies."

Sam Jacobs is facing six weeks on the sidelines following knee surgery.

"Given the complex nature of Sam’s meniscal pathology, a period of time and conservative management was first required," Crows science and medical services coordinator Steve Saunders said.

"It became clearer this week, with persisting meniscal signs under graduated load progressions, that surgical intervention would serve him best in both the short and long-term.

"We expect Sam to progress quickly through the next 4-6 weeks of rehab and be back to his best."

Sam Jacobs will miss a third straight game due to knee soreness.

"Sam is still presenting with meniscal symptoms that have prevented multi-directional and dynamic training progressions despite other improvements in function," Crows science and medical services coordinator Steve Saunders said.

"It is a complex meniscal problem with acute and longstanding or chronic pathologies involved."

Sam Jacobs says he is happy to be reunited with former Blues teammate Bryce Gibbs who recently joined the Crows.

"This is my eighth year here, so it's taken eight years to get him across," Jacobs said.

"He's a really versatile player and it's exciting to have him here and play with him again."

As he prepares to represent the Crows in the 2017 Grand Final, Sam Jacobs credits the tight bond of the Crows' players and coaching staff for helping him deal with the death of his older brother, Aaron, last month.

"When I lost my brother Aaron, it wasn't about me, it was about continuing the journey we started back in 2011 when I got to the club," Jacobs said.

"As a team, we've gone through some really tough times and what you see is a really passionate team that plays for each other.

"The love and care I've got from the team and the footy fans has been unreal and I'm thankful for everyone getting behind me."

Sam Jacobs tallies a career-high 26 possessions, nine marks and eight inside 50s in the Crows' 76-point thumping of Richmond at Adelaide Oval.

"Over time, I've let the midfielders know they can trust me with the ball in my hands," Jacobs said.

"I guess it's a thing with ruckmen, generally you don't want them to kick, but it's an area I've worked really hard at."

Sam Jacobs notches a career-high 6 contested marks to go with 43 hitouts in the Adelaide's 24-point win against Hawthorn at the MCG.

"He (Jacobs) was fantastic today. His ruckwork was outstanding and his marking around the ground and his follow-up was probably as good as I have seen in my time at the footy club," Crows coach Don Pyke said.

Adelaide captain Taylor Walker will continue to look to veteran duo Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas for guidance, despite the pair having been dropped from the Crows' leadership group.

"(Jacobs) and (Douglas) won't be in the leadership group this year, (but) I've told them both I'll still lean on them for their experience and knowledge," Walker said.

"Whether (Jacobs) likes it or not, I'll still be poaching him and annoying him for information.

"I'm sure he's disappointed, he's a proud guy, but I've got no doubt that (Jacobs) will still be (Jacobs) and continue on what he normally does."

After an impressive debut for the Crows with 29 hit-outs and 16 possessions, Reilly O'Brien says he is prepared to bide his time behind Sam Jacobs, but is also willing to play up forward if the Crows want to carry two big men into the finals.

"I'd love to continue to play up there and play as many games as I can, but in saying that, I'm happy, when 'Sauce' comes back, to go back to the SANFL and to be the back-up,'' O'Brien said.

''I'll continue to work on my forward craft as well as my ruck craft. 'It's just a matter of what the coaches want with the team balance."

Sam Jacobs badly rolls his ankle in the second term against Essendon before being helped off Adelaide Oval in obvious pain.

His left ankle gave way when he landed during a marking contest and he immediately reached down to hold it.

"He rolled his ankle, the report at the moment is that it’s a low-grade strain, so we’re pretty hopeful with treatment he could be available next week," Adelaide coach Don Pyke said.

Tex Walker is again named captain of the Crows for 2016.

Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas have also been added to Adelaide's leadership group for 2016.

Jacobs and Douglas join Walker, Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo and Daniel Talia in the leadership group following a player vote.

Sam Jacobs says it is an honour to be elevated by his peers to Adelaide's leadership group.

"I am thrilled that my teammates have recognised me in this way and that for me is the ultimate compliment," Jacobs said.

"I also look forward to helping build on the standards and behaviours already in place.

"I have always tried to behave like a leader around the club, whether there has been an official title next to my name or not."

Patrick Dangerfield will leave the Adelaide Football Club as its 2015 best and fairest, having claimed his first Malcolm Blight Medal.

Rory Laird's enormous development this year saw him finish runner-up, 22 votes behind Dangerfield.

Small forward Eddie Betts finished third, ruckman Sam Jacobs fourth and Rory Sloane rounded out the top five.

Ruckman Sam Jacobs has signed a three-year contract extension with Adelaide, tying him to the Crows until at least the end of 2019.

"I am really enjoying my football at the Crows and look forward to continuing my career at West Lakes," Jacobs said.

"There is a very positive vibe at the club and we have an exciting group of players working together to achieve success."

Daniel Talia has been promoted into the club's leadership group for the first time, replacing Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas.

Talia joins 2014 members Nathan van Berlo, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker and Scott Thompson in the six-man group to lead in 2015.

"Each member of the group possesses a unique leadership style and as a group they complement each other well," Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said.

"All of them have a strong presence and what is best for the team sits at the forefront of their minds."

Daniel Talia is crowned the Crows' 2014 club champion, finishing strongly in a thrilling count to claim his first Malcolm Blight Medal.

Talia shared the lead with Patrick Dangerfield entering the final round on 72 votes, but his stellar performance on St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt in round 23 saw him clinch the award (79 votes) from Rory Sloane (77).

Dangerfield finished third (76) and only nine votes separated the top five, which was rounded out by Brodie Smith (72) and Sam Jacobs (70).

Sam Jacobs will play in his 100th game this week as a Crow but says he sometimes doubted he could reach this milestone while at Carlton while competing for the ruck spot against Matthew Kreuzer, Robbie Warnock and Shaun Hampson.

"At that stage I was in and out of the side a lot and couldn't get any continuity going," Jacobs said.

"Going through those sort of hardships, if you want to call them that, really shaped me.

"It was really good for me as an 18-year-old to go to Melbourne and experience life away from family and friends. It made me grow up.

"The challenges of having a lot of ruckmen around my age, we were really competitive as a group and I think that's helped shaped the way I play my footy."

After a solid performance in round 1 against Geelong, Sam Jacobs believe a pre-season spent improving his fitness is already paying dividends.

"I definitely felt better towards the end of the game, I was just able to cover more of the ground and just generally felt a bit sharper," Jacobs said.

"I felt springier at centre bounces as well. I'm probably not as strong as what I was last year, but I'm in a really good position to be able to compete because I've got more intensity and more energy."

Sam Jacobs has trimmed 3-4kg off his frame as he hopes to improve his endurance in 2014.

"I've lightened up a bit, I'm probably three or four kilos lighter, obviously the game's getting quicker and quicker now so you sort of have to have that capacity to run," Jacobs said.

"Last year I was doing four, five weights sessions a week, this year it's gone back to two or three - we're doing a lot more running this year.

"That's one thing I'm excited about is to see whether I've hit the right balance of slimming up but not giving away too much strength."

Sam Jacobs admits that his form has not been up to standard this year.

"I've got pretty high expectations of my own game and I'm probably one of those blokes who still needs to find that consistency through a game and just keep doing everything right," Jacobs said.

"Coming off a good year I probably tried to grow my game too much and was worrying about other things … I went away from the things I need to do and that's ruck well.

"Early on in the year obviously things weren't going as well as I would have liked so now it's just to get back and worry about my core business and that's making sure I'm giving the boys first supply with the ruck.

"The rest of it comes with it."

Adelaide starts 2013 with a 1-2 record following a showdown loss to the Power and Crows coach Brenton Sanderson identifies Sam Jacobs as one who must rediscover his 2012 form.

"He's one of our players that needs to lift and he knows that, we're not getting the dominance that we used to in there," Sanderson said.

"He's one player that's going to have to find some form pretty quickly."

Sam Jacobs says he wants to build on his excellent 2012 season and to improve his game even further.

"That's part of my game to go to a new level as well, taking control a lot more, not only midfield but if I'm resting forward, just having that confidence to tell blokes no matter who it is, where we need to improve," Jacobs said.

"I don't want to be a flash in the pan and just be a one-year good player, for me the challenge is to continue the high standard I set last year."

Sam Jacobs signs a three-year deal with Adelaide, keeping him at the club until the end of 2016.

Nathan van Berlo will captain the Crows for a third consecutive year, with Rory Sloane, Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, Sam Jacobs and Jason Porplyzia joining him in the leadership group.

"VB is the complete package when it comes to leadership," Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said.

"He leads by example and he understands our game plan - he is an extension of the coaching group in that respect. His relationship with the whole squad is fantastic.

"He lives the values of the club and of the players. He is the ultimate role model for our young players and the entire squad."

Sam Jacobs says he has received plenty of well-wishers following his omission from the 2012 All Australian side.

"I've had massive support," he said.

"There's been tweets, Facebook and text messaging. A lot of people have voiced their opinions of what they thought should have happened, which has been nice."

Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield were both shocked by Sam Jacobs' omission from the 2012 All Australian team.

"It was a bit of a surprise (to see Jacobs miss out on selection), he's had an outstanding season and certainly we wouldn't be here if he didn't have as good a season as he's had," Dangerfield said.

"Our season's probably a reflection of what he's been able to do to make us look like better players, he's very stiff to miss out on (All Australian) selection," Thompson said.

Jacobs admitted to being slightly disappointed at missing out on selection.

"Naturally you do get disappointed, especially when you hear a lot of people saying 'you should have been in there'," Jacobs said.

"But I guess the best thing for me is, I'm playing in a prelim this week. It puts it in perspective - I'm here to win a premiership, I'm not here to be All Australian."

Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs sets a new AFL record with 61 hitouts and wins the Showdown Medal against Port Adelaide, earning special praise from his coach Brenton Sanderson.

"Showdowns are special, they require special efforts from individuals and the team, and I did put it on 'Sauce' in front of the team that we did need something special from him in the second half," Sanderson said.

"To his credit he stayed on the ground the whole time, didn't come off, they tried going third up against him as well and that didn't work. It was a pretty special game from the big fella."

Sam Jacobs makes a point of studying Dean Cox's ruckwork and the first 50 games of his career compare favourably to the five-time All Australian .

"He is one bloke who I do watch a lot of," Jacobs said.

"I try to watch his game almost every week and I do take a lot from how Cox plays and you probably can say I do model my game on him a little bit.

"Possession rate is something I wanted to build this year as well, try to get it up a little bit higher."

Ruckman Sam Jacobs is in All Australian form and contributing significantly to the Crows' ascension in 2012 with his hitouts resulting in Adelaide leading the competition in clearances.

"It has [surprised me], the improvement, in one year. Last year it wasn't a strength at all," Jacobs said of Adelaide's ruck and midfield dominance.

"I was getting hit-outs but they weren't to advantage. We worked really hard over the pre-season and it probably has surprised me how much [the numbers] have improved."

Sam Jacobs says suggestions the Crows should trade Kurt Tippett due to the key forward's wayward goalkicking are "ridiculous".

"'Tippo's' very important to us and what he does to get those shots on goal, his contested marking and stuff like that," Jacobs said.

"The way he assists me as well, he's pretty adaptable to play ruck and forward. He's obviously been working really hard on (his goal kicking) ... he's come a long way now and hopefully he keeps progressing."

Ruckman Sam Jacobs says Adelaide is revelling in caretaker coach Mark Bickley's attacking game-plan.

"When 'Bicks' came in we changed a few little things. We've been a lot more attacking and the group are revelling in that," Jacobs said following the Crows' win against Brisbane in Round 20.

"He's backing us in to play a lot of instinct footy. I think we're playing a pretty exciting brand at the moment and are attacking really well."

Recruit Sam Jacobs says he was always going to return to Adelaide at some stage throughout his career.

"Growing up, the Crows were the pinnacle and I always loved the thought of being able to come home and play in front of family and friends for the Crows," Jacobs said.

"It was such a big thing for me growing up and I always wanted to do it. There were plenty of ruckmen at Carlton and we were all young, so it wasn't like anyone was going to leave. Then Jon Griffin went back to Western Australia and everything just fell into place."

Crows ruckman Ivan Maric says he welcomes competition from teammates Brad Moran and Sam Jacobs for the main ruck spot at the club.

"With Sam coming into the club and Brad getting his leg right, we have been locking horns every day since the start of pre-season. That has been great for all three of us because we all improve a lot better and a lot quicker," Maric said.

"Whether they were fit or injured, it would not have changed my anything about my mentality. In training or playing, it is important for me to be competitive, aggressive and intimidating. That's when I play my best footy and enjoy my footy."

New Adelaide recruit Sam Jacobs says he came to Adelaide for opportunity rather than money.

"Carlton had four ruckmen, there were two left at the Crows with Brad and Ivan, plus I'm a South Australian boy and always wanted to play footy here, so it seems pretty obvious to me," Jacobs said.

"I always wanted to come back home and the situation at Carlton is pretty well documented, that with all the talls there it was going to make it pretty hard to all play together."

Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Clarke believes Ivan Maric faces strong competition from Sam Jacobs and Brad Moran in 2011.

"Ivan's done the majority of work in the first ruck role over the last couple of years and was the No.1 ruckman in the last game of last season. Incumbency counts for something but your form is only really good for one or two games," Clarke said.

"What Sam's done so far has been impressive and we've also got Brad Moran, who didn't play at all last year because of injury. We've pretty much got two new ruckmen into the system this year and Ivan will be under pressure from those guys.

"I'm sure they'll all get opportunities throughout the NAB Cup and whoever performs the best over the that period and on the track will get the first crack."

Sam Jacobs officially joins the Crows after Adelaide gives up draft picks No. 33 and No. 67 to Carlton.

"He wasn't (worth) a first-round pick he was a second-round pick," Crows recruiting manager Matt Rendell said about the stand off between the two clubs prior to the deal being made.

"I think he confirmed that's where he was in the market place. We stuck to our digs there and we've got the deal done."

Carlton ruckman Sam Jacobs has joined Adelaide after the Blues accepted two NAB AFL Draft picks in exchange for the 22-year-old.

"We're very happy for Sam as he was desperately wanting to get home to Adelaide and he felt that because Carlton have four big ruckmen his opportunities there were limited," Crows football operations manager Phil Harper said.

"To be able to come up with a deal that satisfies Carlton is terrific. It made them happy, it makes Sam happy and of course we're happy as well, which is great."

Adelaide's Matt Rendell says his club wants to strike a deal with Carlton for Sam Jacobs, rather than have the ruckman head for the pre-season draft.

"We'd prefer to trade with Carlton. I don't think any club likes any player going to the pre-season," Rendell said.

"We don't want to force anyone to go to the pre-season draft. We'd be very happy to trade and hopefully something will get done."

Adelaide recruiting boss Matt Rendell says Carlton would be "crazy" not to try to do a deal for Sam Jacobs after Carlton coach Brett Ratten suggested that the Blues could let him slip into the pre-season draft if no suitable deal was agreed on.

"You should be trying to get deals done with clubs - that's how the trade system works. It's not great if clubs are trying to push players to pre-season and we'd like to deal on Jacobs," Rendell said.

"To me they're not being ridiculous, they're being fair ... we're just discussing it at the moment and they're being fair so I'd be surprised if they want to do that."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says he is willing to trade ruckman Sam Jacobs to Adelaide but the deal won't be done unless a suitable trade is offered.

"Well, the Gold Coast's got the first pick [in the pre-season draft], so if we don't get there, he might be going to the other side of the country," Ratten said.

"We've got a few boys that have indicated that they would maybe have a look outside the club. We won't make any changes unless we get the right deals done there."

Carlton ruckman Sam Jacobs has told the club he wants to be traded to Adelaide during trade week.

"While disappointed with Sam's decision to return back to South Australia, the club will now commence discussions with the Adelaide Crows to enable a suitable exchange," Carlton football manager Steven Icke said.

Sam Jacobs heads to Adelaide today for talks that regarding a possible trade to the Crows.

"Adelaide's half-keen on Sam so we'll have a chat over dinner and see what he wants to do and where he wants to be in the next few years," his manager Craig Vozzo said.

"Assuming (Jonathon) Griffin goes (to a WA club) the Crows will be looking for a ruckman, and if Sam says to me he wants to go down that path it will be up to me to talk in more detailed terms with the Adelaide Football Club."

Sam Jacobs played possibly his best game for the Carlton in their losing elimination final on the weekend, but it may have been his last for the Blues as speculation mounts of a return to his native South Australia.

"We're just working through contract negotiations with Carlton at the moment," Jacobs' manager Craig Vozzo said.

"I suspect it'll take a few more weeks. We've got to get a bit of a feel for what the club wants to do. He's happy at Carlton but he's a South Australian lad ... if an opportunity presents, you know, he hasn't ruled that out."

Carlton looks set to reward rookie ruckman Sam Jacobs for his impressive pre-season form by elevating him to the senior list by tomorrow week's cut-off date.