Lions Profile: Sam Darcy

Posted on May 6, 2013

The self styled “Wonderhorse”, Sam is an up and coming star on the field. Having been involved for years with the Cubs, Sam took the next step to become a Lion, and hasn’t looked back. Quiet, brooding, devilishly handsome, Sam is a hard worker who has improved on all facets of his game. Sam executed one of the most incredible plays the club has ever been part of, scoring the opening TD of the 2012 Waratah Bowl by catching the ball against the helmet of the UTS defender. The clip can be found here with an incredible photo captured by Terri Shine savouring the moment forever:

Darcy held this position for an incredible score.

SUAFC sat down with the myth himself and had a chat:

How long have you been playing for?

I started with the Cubs in 2007 when I was fourteen years old, then graduated to the Lions ranks in 2010. That makes four seasons of Cubs, and three seasons of Lions football.

What position?

I started my career at Wide Receiver, had a two-year stint at QB in an option offense from 2009-10, then returned to Receiver when I joined the Lions. I got an opportunity to yell my husky cadences from QB again this past season and had a lot of fun.

What is your sporting background?

I played a multitude of sports throughout school before focusing solely on American Football. Soccer from an early age, then Rugby Union, Rowing, and Track & Field.

What do you like about the game?

I like that each position on the football field comes with its own ‘particular set of skills’ and physical requirements, and when they all come together, you, for the most part, have a cohesive Offense or Defense. I’m not entirely sure whether that made sense, but to put it simply, I enjoy that people of varying physical traits, characteristics and abilities can excel in this sport.

 

Crisp routes and elusive with the ball, Sam is a well rounded receiver

What do you find the biggest challenge of the game?

This applies specifically to my role at Receiver, but it’s matching up one-on-one every weekend and trying to both physically and mentally out-manoeuvre the guy over you. Most scenarios at Receiver typically involve one-on-one matchups, so it’s masking and altering your tendencies during route-running and giving different looks in both the running and passing game to a guy who has been chasing you around the field all day that I find one of the biggest challenges, but also one of the most rewarding and enjoyable.

Where do you hope to go with the sport?

I’ve had the humbling opportunity to travel both inter-state and internationally with this sport, and represented both State and Country. I am very much satisfied with focussing on club level, Lions football over the next few seasons.

Favourite pre game music?

Anything mellow. Explosions in the Sky I’ve been big on this season, as well as Flying Lotus, and Kid Cudi’s rock band WZRD.

Favourite pre game food?

For big games, whatever I can keep down. Generally speaking, chicken, rice and pasta.

Favourite Lions memory?

My first start against the Penrith Outlaws in the 2011 season was a very memorable experience. We had little-to-no depth at Runningback, and resorted to passing the ball a lot. From a Receiver perspective, that was a very fun game to be involved in. I think scoring a TD in Waratah Bowl XXIX this past season has to be up there too. Largely though, it’s just been the conversations during water breaks and between drills during your typical Wednesday night training that I’ve enjoyed.

Toughest opponent you ever faced as a Lion?

The West Sydney Pirates are always a physical affair, and a team I really enjoy playing against. UTS this season were very active on Defense also and have some amazing athletes in the Secondary. Two games come to mind specifically as the toughest of my short tenure with the Lions: the Pirates matchup at Kyeemagh in 2011, Coach Taylor’s 200th game I think it was. The second was against UTS at Budgewoi in the 2012 season where we escaped with a 6-2 win courtesy of a Granger TD catch in the 4th Quarter.

What was the biggest change stepping up to Lions from Cubs?

Definitely the game speed. Fast is faster in Division One. There is infinitely more focus on the strategic elements of the sport also at the Seniors level. Film analysis and game planning are such an integral component of our team’s success, and a lot of time is devoted to that aspect of the game throughout the week.

Favourite opposition to play against?

I like matching up against guys I know. Teams that mix up their coverages I think though, that run interesting schemes and give different looks are fun to play against. West Sydney, UTS and an in-form Outlaws, my three favourite.

Favourite movie?

Hardest question ever. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Jack Nicholson, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, My Own Private Idaho. There are too many.

Football-wise; a documentary called Undefeated about a Memphis high school team. That was a winner.

Settle down ladies: that's a focussed in game gaze, not a smouldering after game gaze.