October 2006: Sam Jacobs at the SA draft screenings; it has been a long road to Carlton’s senior list for Sam.

This is the first year the AFL has introduced a new rule where players being upgraded from rookie status need to be selected in the national draft.

This has been a long road as, after missing draft selection back in 2006, the 200cm redhead was the first person grabbed in the rookie draft in December that year.

He spent three years as a rookie, playing with the Northern Bullants in the VFL competition.

After a new rule was introduced at the start of ’09 season, Jacobs and teammate Aaron Joseph were elevated as nominated rookies, thus eligible to play senior football at any time during the 2009 Toyota AFL premiership season and finals series.

Jacobs played each of the Blues’ NAB Cup 2009 pre-season games, and the opening four regular matches of the Blues’ ’09 campaign before a foot injury put him on the sidelines.

He returned to the track after a long lay-off and was a part of the Bullants’ finals series that culminated in a grand final appearance against North Ballarat.

Before going across to Carlton, 21-year-old Jacobs played 13 league games with the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club, as well as being a part of the state under 18s’ campaign that year.