Bailey Banfield Biography

Consistent selection in Fremantle's best 22 has fuelled confidence for Bailey Banfield.

"It's probably the first time in my career that I've been a best 22 member and really solid and secure in the squad every week, which has helped take a lot of anxiety out of footy for me," Banfield told AFL.com.au.

"Footy is a tough industry and it's by no means stress-free, but there's been an element of that taken out, which has been really nice … and you're just a bit more comfortable in your own head space."

Fremantle select Bailey Banfield with pick No.22 in the 2020 Rookie Draft.

Fremantle delists Bailey Banfield, Brett Bewley and Lachie Schultz but commits to re-drafting them in the upcoming rookie draft.

"There is a process we have to go through and we look forward to welcoming Lachie, Brett and Bailey back onto our playing squad for 2021," Fremantle football boss Peter Bell said.

Bailey Banfield has worked on becoming more versatile to re-start a stalled senior career.

"I'm just trying to build that flexibility so I can plug into as many positions as possible at AFL level wherever the spot does open up," Banfield said.

"Just keep grinding, keep working and when a spot does open up, hopefully take that with two hands and run with it."

Banfield was a regular in his first season at the Dockers, showing plenty of promise in 20 games off the rookie list. But things haven't fallen his way so far in 2019.

"It was a little bit frustrating initially because I think your expectations change a little bit (after last season), but it's really just a mindset change and there's no point being down on that," Banfield said.

"At the end of the day, you're still playing footy with your mates, whether it's at Peel or Freo."

Bailey Banfield has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension after playing all but one game in his debut season of 2018.

The mature-age Claremont product will also be elevated to the senior list next season after extending his stay at the Dockers until 2020.

"It's been awesome playing through the midfield and lining up in the centre square bounces with some of the biggest names in footy," Banfield said.

"You're just playing on the best player and you're seeing what they do, their work rate and just the little tips and tricks about how they get the ball and how they defend and filing that away for future use."

The emergence of Bailey Banfield has been a huge bonus for Fremantle in 2018, with the 20-year-old impressing in his role as a tough run-with player.

"It is stressful, knowing you're coming up against the best players in the comp," Banfield said.

"You're tagging them for a reason. It is definitely a stressful experience, but you learn that much from it."

However, Banfield has pushed the boundaries in his role as a tagger, and has already been fined on three occasions.

"(There's been) three separate incidents, which is a bit unfortunate," Banfield said.

"But I've learnt from each one, and it's something that I'm looking to get out of my game."

Bailey Banfield makes his AFL debut for Fremantle at Adelaide Oval with 12 disposals (8 kicks and 4 handballs), 3 marks and 3 tackles in a 50-point loss to Port Adelaide.

Bailey Banfield will make his AFL debut in Fremantle's 2018 season opener against Port Adelaide and says he wants to prove recruiters wrong after being overlooked in two drafts.

"I was the 210th pick over the two drafts, so 209 blokes went before me and that definitely does give me a lot of motivation that they didn’t think I was good enough," Banfield said.

"All 18 clubs passed on me multiple times and to be able to go out and play round one is something that’s really special and something that I really cherish, and hopefully I can make the most of my opportunity."

Fremantle assistant coach Michael Prior says mature-age rookie Bailey Banfield has "come from nowhere" to be in line for a round one debut.

"It's a great story, a tagger down at Claremont, won a best and fairest, has come into our side and has played a pressure forward role and is kicking goals as well," Prior said.

"We were really impressed with him the last couple of weeks. He's pressing his case for round one."

Bailey Banfield achieved a lot in the 12 months between being overlooked at the 2016 NAB AFL Draft and arriving at Fremantle as a rookie on Monday, even coaching a premiership.

Banfield was snapped up by the Dockers with pick No.5 in this year's NAB AFL Rookie Draft after a standout WAFL season that saw him win Claremont's best and fairest as a 19-year-old.

He also made a significant dent in his economics and finance degree at the University of Western Australia, capping the year off by leading his junior club to a premiership.

"I coach the Swanny Tigers year nines and I had a really fun year with the boys, it was my second year coaching them," Banfield said.

"We actually won a premiership with three goals in the last five minutes to win it by a point, so that's pretty much why I do it, it's great fun and they're a great bunch of boys there.

"Just being able to share a bit of what my coaches have told me, I get a lot out of that and the boys really enjoy it. They were some of the blokes most excited for me yesterday."