Sam Banks took some decent steps in his development at the game’s highest level this season with Richmond.

The hard-running, young Tiger played 15 games, alternating between wing and half-back, averaging 12.0 disposals and 227.7 metres gained per match.

He had an AFL career-high 25 disposals in the Round 22 clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

“I started off the year a little bit slow . . .  disappointed with how I started. But once I came into the team, I felt like I started to find my feet,” Banks told Richmond Media in a post-season review.

“After the bye, I felt like I played some pretty decent footy.

“It was good to play every game after the bye and to be a part of the group for the backend of the season.

“When you’re under the pump a bit and you’re around the footy, you get to show the blokes around you what you can do, and gain their trust, which is a massive thing.

“I think by gaining trust as a young bloke, it gets you a long way.

“So, hopefully I came away from the season and a few of the older boys have seen me coming back from the wing and they can trust me to help out.”

Banks recently underwent post-season surgery on a foot injury that he battled throughout the season.

“It had been niggling me a little bit throughout the year, but managed to get through no worries,” he said.

“Got it fixed up . . . I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the rehab., getting it right and, hopefully, having an injury-free post-Christmas, and build up from there.

Banks’ goal for the 2025 season is quite straightforward.

“I’d love to be a mainstay in the side next year,” he said.”

“I’m into my fourth year, so I feel like, hopefully, Round 1 I’m there and I can play as many games as I can throughout the year.

“I’ve got little bits and pieces I want to work on throughout the pre-season . . .

“I’m just really hungry, as one of the young leaders of the footy club, to drive all the standards and get us back up where I know we can be.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”